User's Manual

09/2002 CATTRON-THEIMEG
™
Locosafety – page 1
RECOMMENDED SAFETY RULES
FOR PORTABLE RADIO REMOTE CONTROLLED (PRRC) LOCOMOTIVES
The information contained herein is based on data gathered from various users of portable radio
remote control locomotive systems. We emphasize that the recommendations contained herein
are not intended to supersede the rules or regulations of our customers, or the rules and
regulations of any applicable local, state, or federal government organizations. It must be fully
understood that the recommendations contained herein are provided solely for your
consideration and possible adoption.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION TITLE PAGE
1 Preface 1
2 Operator Safety Basics 2
2-1 Area Inspection 2
2-2 Locomotive & Railcar Inspection (mechanical & structural) 2
2-3 Operational Safety Check 2
3 Persons Authorized to Operate Remote Controlled Locomotives 2
4 Training Checklist for Operation of Remote Controlled Locomotives 3
5 Operating Area for Remote Controlled Locomotives 3
6 Pre-departure Checks under Manual Control 3
7 The Portable Radio Remote Controller 4
8 Transferring the Locomotive to Radio Remote Control 5
9 Pre-departure Checks under Radio Remote Control 5
10 Operating the Remote Controlled Locomotive 6
11 Boarding the Remote Controlled Locomotive 7
12 On Board the Remote Controlled Locomotive 8
13 Remote Controlled Locomotive under Repair 8
14 The Condition of the Remote Controlled Locomotive 10
1. PREFACE.
1-1. Locomotives operate in two motions. They are large, bulky pieces of equipment that handle
heavy loads efficiently at comparatively high speeds. Quite frequently they are operated in
restricted areas where workmen are engaged in various tasks or there is pedestrian or vehicular
traffic. Under these conditions locomotive operators using Portable Radio Remote Control
must take great care, and workmen must be constantly on the alert if accidents are to be
avoided.
1-2. The following guidelines have been carefully assembled and are promoted to indicate just how
important your careful and thoughtful actions are in helping to protect you and your fellow
workers from harm, and also to prevent equipment damage.
1-3. These guidelines cover Locomotives when they are operational in Portable Radio Remote
Control (PRRC) mode. If a locomotive is operated from cab control, the PRRC system’s
controller(s) should be completely isolated by removing the battery and stored under lock and
key.
1-4. A routine pre-shift inspection of the locomotive takes a lot less time than repairing a
locomotive suffering from a major problem. In addition, such pre-shift inspections are to be
considered as ‘safety basics’ which are an important part of a locomotive operator’s duties.