WMATA workers ignored safety protocols, leading to worker's death
Several WMATA employees neglected to follow safety protocols when a train struck a track worker near the Braddock Road station on the Yellow and Blue lines. Washington Post story; Metro press release. The worker died two weeks after he was struck.
No one had notified central control that track workers were in the area, so central did not tell train operators to look out for workers. Upon seeing track workers, operators are supposed to sound their horns and stop if the workers do not acknowledge the train with a hand signal. Two operators (the one who struck the worker, and another who passed the scene after the incident) did not sound their horns. In addition, the work crew had been crossing the track bed in an unsafe manner all afternoon.
Metro fired the work crew's supervisor and is taking unspecified disciplinary action against the train operators who did not blow their horns. Metro is also ordering refresher safety training for various personnel.
In other news, Metro has made an arrest in an iPod robbery that was noted here earlier. Police advise riders to mark their iPods (the victim's iPod was engraved; take advantage of the free engraving at the Apple web store) and to keep valuables out of sight. Metro is also running a pickpocketing awareness campaign, saying such incidents increase during this time of year. You'll see posters with MacGruff on the trains.
Post Author:
massysett | 9:12 AM |
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