As we get ready to harvest this year’s crop, we know that the movement of grain is critical this time of year. As elevators fill up locally, they need to have a constant flow of grain out of their facilities as well. Trains are an integral part of that relationship. They move tons of grain across the country and across rail systems that interact with everyday life, especially in the hurried lifestyle of the rural communities in the fall.
While this week is Farm Safety Week, it is also Rail Safety Week, and Jefferey Price is a Railroad Police Officer for the Canadian National Railroad. He says that there is a train related accident every three hours. Price talks about the passive crossings we find in rural America, and the fact that we can’t rely on a set schedule when it comes to moving freight.
Knowing the length of your vehicle and any trailing equipment or wagons is key.
Price says that the most important piece of safety equipment you can have with you when crossing tracks is your cell phone. Each track has a number to call and an ID that you can use to report if you get stuck on the tracks. This allows dispatchers to stop a train before it hits you.
Learn more at the Operation Life Saver website.
