BOSTON — The incidents that led federal officials to reject a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority safety plan included one in which a track worker was hospitalized after being struck by a 2,000-pound counterweight, the Boston Herald reports.
The Herald reviewed documents with details on six incidents that caused the Federal Transit Administration to order the MBTA to resubmit its safety plan for track workers [see “FTA orders MBTA to revise safety plan …,” Trains News Wire, May 30, 2023]. The revised plan is due today (Monday, June 5); MBTA spokeswoman Lisa Battison told the Herald on Friday that the plan would be ready on time, and that MBTA officials will meet with the FTA today to review the submission.
The April 13 incident involved an electrical lineman who was adjusting a 2,000-pound counterweight that is part of electrified rail lines when a bolt snapped, causing the weight to fall on the worker. The worker was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and Blue Line service was replaced by shuttle buses because of the injury and damage to the catenary system.
The majority of the other incidents, five “near-miss” situations involving track workers, had been described previously by the MBTA [see “MBTA had four near-miss incidents …,” News Wire, April 14, 2023].
The MBTA began retraining for all 10,000 employees and contractors with right-of-way access in mid-May, board members were told at a meeting last month.
Tom,I agree, BUT: Recall a famous I-40 bridge closure at Memphis lately?
A canoe operator happened to notice the crack years before it became an issue/concern.
He tried to warn the DOT, but to deaf ears. My point is safety. Inspection might have pointed out the bolt situation. But it would seem there is more to the story than what is reported
endmrw0606231057
Here we go again! A bolt failure is NOT quite a “safety” issue; bolts don’t snap because of “safety” issues on the Blue Line subway, Boston’s only high-platform subway with overhead catenary Someone may be trying to create trouble for various reasons.