SAGINAW, TEXAS—2020-12-02

Gavilon Group LLC

Rail vehicle incident, n.e.c. · Cuts and abrasions or bruises

Final narrative

Two employees were opening lids on railcars to prepare the cars for loading on a track. Both employees were in full body harnesses and were connected by a self-retracting lifeline (SRL) to a rail fall safety system. The train started moving north and the employees realized that the cars were going to move beyond the fall protection coverage and decided to unhook from the rail fall protection. Employee 1 assisted the injured employee and unhooked from the system. As the injured employee attempted to unhook, the SRL ran out of cable, roughly 25 feet from the rail shed. The injured employee was pulled onto his back and remained stationary on his back, held by the SRL cable, as the rail cars moved under him. The employee sustained a laceration and contusion to the top of the head; bruising and scrapes to the lower back, legs and arms; a cut on the right hand; and a bruised thumb.

Hospitalized Multiple body parts, n.e.c. Freight train

Similar incidents · Same event type

ORD, NEBRASKA—2023-10-28

Cargill AgHorizons

An employee was loading a corn train and opening and closing the top hatches of the grain rail cars. As the employee unhooked the snap hook of their self-retracting lifeline (SRL) that was temporarily hooked to a rail car, the cars began to move. The employee's left index finger was caught between the snap hook and the rail car, resulting in partial amputation.

BOWBELLS, NORTH DAKOTA—2023-09-07

CHS SunPrairie

An employee was opening train car hatches on top of a train. The train was backing up to scan the cars in when the employee's foot became stuck. He was then dragged across two rail cars sustaining a concussion and a toe injury.

MARCUS HOOK, PENNSYLVANIA—2020-10-20

Allied Universal Security

An employee was opening a train gate for a rail company. Before the employee could open the gate, the train struck the gate which knocked the employee down and rendered him unconscious. The employee sustained fractures to the skull and right eye socket.

MARVEL CAVE PARK, MISSOURI—2019-08-02

Branson Mountain Adventure

An employee was riding on an amusement park's mountain ride. He lost his balance and came partly out of the cart; his arm hit the track and his arm was broken.

GAHANNA, OHIO—2019-06-04

Thayer Power and Communication

On June 4, 2019, a crew was installing fiber across a railroad crossing. A train came through and snagged the fiber. The fiber caught an employee in the neck area and the employee was thrown to the ground. The employee sustained cuts to the head and neck and was hospitalized.