Failing to Properly Train Worker Costs Company $55,000

A worker at a grain elevator operation was moving a railcar from one track to another using a specialized railroad vehicle. He got out of the vehicle, went to activate a rail switch and noticed that the vehicle was moving towards the switch. When he stepped onto the track to retrieve lumber to chock the vehicle’s wheels, his foot got caught between the rail and a wheel and was crushed. The MOL found that the worker was never trained on any policies about stepping on tracks or between railcars and other vehicles. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate information, instruction and supervision on the safe operation of the railcar moving vehicle and was fined $55,000 [London Agricultural Commodities Inc., Govt. News Release, Dec. 24, 2012].