Risk Management and Locomotive Engine Rooms - Case Study

One of the biggest factors when it comes to riskThis means hitting it with a steam cleaner, or hot-water
management is the issue of confined space. OSHApressure washer. Now you are introducing
for instance realizes that this is a huge problem andhigh-pressure, heat, and water to oil and grease. I'd say
they are concerned with restricted entry and exitthat's a little bit hazardous, but it must be done
locations for employees working in hazardousotherwise when the motor is running it would be easy
situations where risk of injury or death is concerned.to slip onto moving parts of the motor, and/or burn
When it comes to the railroad, and those that work ononeself. Perhaps this is why our contract cleaning
trains, the engine room is just such a space. In fact, oncompany was always busy taking care of our railroad
almost all modern day locomotives there are accesscustomers.
doors along the entire length of the motor.They wanted the equipment clean, they wanted to
Still, it is a confined space between the pillars for thesave on insurance, and they wanted to prevent
doors and working between the engine components.accidents. Indeed, from a risk management standpoint,
Consider if you will that a modern diesel engine haswe also had to be very careful when doing the
pistons the size of basketballs, and they get very hot.cleaning. For instance we had to clean the outside of
And they leak oil, and there is grease everywhere. It'sthe cat walks, all the railings, and the doors first,
impossible to keep them perfectly clean all the time,otherwise we might slip while cleaning the engine
and some railroad mechanics will tell you that if it everourselves. You see, the point in all this is, it isn't only the
stops leaking, that means it's not working. With greasefactory floor where you have to worry about risk
and oil on, in, and around the engine, it is necessary tomanagement, every service company must realize its
clean it early and often.value as well. Please consider all this.