Cell Phone Use Shall Not in Anyway Compromise Safe Jobperformance!
SAFETY BULLETIN 10.1-10
Cell Phone use shall not in anyway compromise safe jobperformance!
Strict compliance with the following is essential to safety.
General Safety Instruction 300.3
Only use a cell phone if its use will not compromise safety or divert attention from safe job performance.
Cell Phone use is expressly prohibited when:
- Occupyingthe traffic envelope on any track.
- Crossing main line and yard tracks.
- Operating a train, on track equipment, or machinery.
- Driving a company vehicle or driving a private vehicle on company business, (unless equipped with a hands free mode of operation).
The restrictions on cell phone use also prohibits the use of any typeof personal electronic or electrical devices and or equipped with ear piece such as ear buds, Blue Tooth devices or any other related technology.
Cell phones are useful business communication tools especially during emergencies or service disruptions. However, care must be taken so that safety is never compromised by the use of a cell phone.
Employees whose duties are governed by the Operating Rulesmust comply withRule D 6
6. Use of electronic or electrical devices while on duty
Employees are prohibited from use of an electronic or electrical device whenperforming safety critical tasks. Earpieces or headphones from any suchdevice must be removed from the ear. In particular, this includes, but is notlimited to:
a. while operating on-track equipment.
b. when providing Roadway Worker Protection.
c. when fouling a track.
Employees must not use and must power off all personal electronic devicesand company provided mobile telephones whenever they are in thecontrolling cab of a train. Earpieces or headphones from any such devicemust be removed from the ear.
Train and Engine Service Employees must not use and must power off allpersonal electronic or electrical devices when engaged in or connected withthe movement of a train or equipment (personal electronic or electricaldevices must be powered off prior to boarding the train) or when engaged inor connected with switching operations. Earpieces or headphones from anysuch device must be removed from the ear.
NOTE: Use of an electronic or electrical device means use of a mobile telephone or another electronic or electrical device to conduct a verbal communication; place or receive a telephone call; send or read an electronic mail message or text message; play a game; navigate the Internet; play, view, or listen to a video; play, view, or listen to a television broadcast; play or listen to a radio broadcast other than a radio broadcast by a railroad; play or listen to music; execute a computational function, or to perform any other function that is not necessary for the health or safety of the person and that entails the risk of distracting the employee from a safety-critical task. Personal electronic or electrical device means anelectronic or electrical device that was not provided by the railroad.
Metro North Railroad Safety and Security Department