TWU Health & Safety

More Member Resources

Local 1460 President Amy Griffin speaks to a TWU member employed by Amtrak about upcoming service cuts.

As a TWU Railroad Division member, where you turn to for health and safety guidance depends on where you work.

If you work in a Car Repair Shop, contact OSHA with any hazards or concerns.

All other Railroad Division members should contact the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Click here for the FRA’s Code of Federal Regulations

Click here for the Rail Worker’s Hazardous Material Training Program

Tips for Working in the Heat

Working in hot environments is not safe. Your body builds up heat when you work and sweats to get rid of it. Too much heat can make you tired, hurt your job performance, and increase your chance of injury. When the temperature changes quickly, you need time for your body to get adjusted to the heat. Be extra careful early in the summer when hot spells begin.

You have a right to a safe & comfortable work environment

Don’t wait for the 90-degree heat – plan for it

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• Clean water provided through a fountain, cooler or bottled water at all locations
• Cool work areas and break rooms
• Ventilation to bring in clean air and take out hot air
• Make adequate water supplies part of your daily workplace inspection

Heat Exhaustion

What are the symptoms?

• Headaches
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Weakness
• Mood changes such as irritability, confusion or the inability to think straight
• Upset stomach or vomiting
• Decreased or dark-colored urine
• Fainting or passing out
• Pale, clammy skin

What is frostbite? Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

• Reddened skin develops gray/white patches.
• Numbness in the affected part.
• Feels firm or hard.
• Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?

• Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
• Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
• Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
• Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
• Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frost bitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
• Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.

How can cold stress be prevented? Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970). Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.

Worker training is needed on how to prevent and recognize cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on the appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment and work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress.

Employers should provide engineering controls. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workers in outdoor security stations. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.

Employers should use safe work practices. For example, it is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers therefore, can provide plenty of warm sweetened liquids to workers. Avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmer part of the day. Employers can assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system), so that they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers can be allowed to interrupt their work, if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas. Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work, by gradually increasing their workload, and allowing more frequent breaks in warm areas, as they build up a tolerance for working in the cold environment. Safety measures, such as these, should be incorporated into the relevant health and safety plan for the workplace.

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet.