OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221685787
RAILSERVE, INC.
COLUMBUS, NE—
Event description
Employee is killed in fall while detraining during car movem
Investigation abstract
At 8:15 p.m. on July 22, 2024, an employee working as a railroad switch train of approximately 25 to 30 grain megahopper cars south toward switch JK. The employee detrained at some point during the initial dragging movement. Coworker #2 informed Coworker #1 that the train was drug too far south and needed to be shoved back one car for the cut. Coworker #2 stopped the train, shoved back one car, and Coworker #1 detrained to cut the cars. Once cars were cut, Coworker #2 continued to drag the train southward. Coworker #1 discovered the employee on the east side of the railroad tracks, face down in the ballast. The employee was conscious, at which time Coworker #1 and Coworker #2 reported the incident to on-site management who notified fire and emergency services. The employee died from blunt force trauma to the head, chest and abdomen. operator/helper for a railroad support service was relocating grain megahoppers in South yard. The employee was working with two coworkers moving the hoppers with utilizing an Archer Daniels Midland - Columbus locomotive 2479 model number 8227211 (SN: 68F-84). Coworker #1 was the crew lead riding the cut car. Coworker #2 was operating the locomotive, and the employee was working as a helper riding on the engine. Coworker #1 called a command over the radio for Coworker #2 to drag to the JF switch so the employee could detrain and activate the switch when the cars were cut. Coworker #2 misheard the command as JK switch and drug the
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 36 F
- Event type
- 5
- Occupation code
- 825
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