12 SAFETY IN TRANSPORTATION

The transportation sector 1/3

Main sub-sectors*

 Air transportation
- Scheduled air transportation
- Non-scheduled air transportation
 Rail transportation
 Water transportation
- Deep sea and coastal water
transportation
- Inland water transportation
 Truck transportation
- General freight trucking
- Specialized freight trucking
* North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH
 Transit and ground passenger
transportation
- Urban transportation
- Interurban and rural bus
transportation
- Taxi and limousine services
- School and employee bus
transportation
- Charter bus industry
- Other … transportation
2
 The transportation sector 2/3
Further (minor) sub-sectors*

 Pipeline transportation  Support activities for air rail and

- Pipeline transpt. of crude oil
- Pipeline transpt. of natural gas
- Other pipeline transportation
 Scenic and sightseeing
transportation
- Scenic and sightseeing
transportation, land
- Scenic and sightseeing
transportation, water
- Other … transportation
water transportation
- Support for air, rail, water
transportation
- Freight transportation arrangement
- Other support activities for
transportation
 Postal service
 Couriers and messengers
 Couriers
 Local messenger and local delivery

* North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)

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 The transportation sector 3/3
Three facets of safety in transportation

Safety of workplaces in transportation

Prevention of minor Prevention of major accidents

accidents on road and rail involving transportation (e.g. Exxon
Valdez, Eshede, air crashes)

E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 4

 The safety situation in transportation
Data on workplace accidents in transportation
EU (2001 data)
Every year about 5500 people are killed in workplace accidents in the EU, of
which about a third are related to transport (~1800). These accidents usually
involve people: being struck or run over by moving vehicles (e.g. during
reversing); falling from vehicles; being struck by objects falling from vehicles; or
vehicles overturning.

The incidence of accidents is higher in SMEs with fewer than 50 employees.

US (2006 data)
There were 854 occupation-related deaths among transportation workers, and
the transportation sector accounted for 31% of the deaths in the service
industry (2736). The number of deaths is double the next closest number of
deaths in a sector.

E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 5

 The safety on road 1/3
Occupations at risk

 Long-distance truck drivers

 Local drivers
 Sale workers
 Laborers and hand freight, stock, and material movers
 Workers in installation, maintenance, and repair
 Office and administrative support workers, dispatchers
 Managerial staff

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 The safety in road transportation 2/3
Transport accidents at work

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 The safety in road transportation 3/3
Control of risks
First, identify the work activities involving vehicles (including visiting vehicles) over a
reasonable period (e.g., over the course of a week). Activities may include:
 arrival and departure;
 travel within the workplace;
 loading, unloading and securing loads;
 sheeting;
 coupling; and
vehicle maintenance work.

Next, identify the risks associated with these activities. Ask yourself what the possible
dangers are, and what is causing those dangers. For example, could someone be hit by
a moving vehicle? Could someone fall from a vehicle, eg while getting in or out, or during
loading? Or be hit by an object falling from a vehicle? Could a vehicle tip over?

When looking for hazards, include:

 The vehicles themselves.
 The routes or roadways used by the vehicles.
 What drivers are doing. n What other people are doing.
E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 8
 The safety on rail 1/3
Occupations at risk

 Locomotive engineers & their crew

 Maintenance and refurbishing of railcars and locomotives
 Repair and replace worn or damaged rails
 Trained responders to accidents and spills
 Office and administrative support workers, dispatchers
 Managerial staff

E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 9

 The safety on rail 2/3
Occupational accidents on railroads

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 The safety on rail 3/3
Control of hazards

Today’s railroad cars incorporate many safety features. Ladders have rungs that prevent
feet from sliding off. There are grab bars at climbing transition points and slip-resistant
walkways and handrails. Thermally insulated tank cars prevent heat buildup and
explosions from fires in adjacent cars. Cars carrying hazardous materials have
interlocking couplings. Locomotives have dead-man controls to prevent runaway trains
should an engineer become incapacitated. Cars containing hazardous materials have
placards indicating contents and type of hazard. Automatic sensors placed strategically
along main lines detect overheated bearings.

Based on traffic at crossings, more and more grade crossings are being protected by
barrier gates and signals. Sensors that detect the speed of a train activate some gates
and ensure adequate lead time for gates to close. Major highways avoid grade crossings
with underpasses and bridges. Some cities are diverting main line rail traffic from the
inner cities where dangerous traffic conflicts exist.

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 The safety in air transportation 1/3
Occupations at risk

Pilots and flight attendants (~1/3 of employees)

 Ground occupations (~2/3 of employees) with the largest
groups:
- Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Ticket agents and travel clerks
- Airplane cargo agents
- Baggage handlers
- Aircraft cleaners

E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 12

 The safety in air transportation 2/3
Occupations accidents on the ground

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 The safety in air transportation 3/3
Control of hazards

The newest aircraft have on-board computers and instruments for navigation,
flight control and management, fuel management, fire detection and
extinguishment, collision avoidance, pressurization control, and many other
functions. Some even have the capability for automated landing. Air traffic
control systems are upgraded continually to handle increased traffic. Without
these systems, aviation would not be possible or as safe as it is.

E. R. Vaidogas, Lectures on OSH 14

 To end of part twelve

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