The Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have expressed concern over personal cell phone calls by rail employees on duty, following investigation of several accidents where employees may have been distracted from their duties at critical times by such activity. Operating Rules on the Nation’s Carriers prohibit the use of cell phones for non-business purposes, but studies suggest that some employees do not heed those rules.

In my personal opinion, even business related cell phone calls should never be initiated or continued during actual train or yard operations. Any safety sensitive functions should be halted before employees report work or take instructions involving track authority, etc. by phone.

Just as cell phone conversations pose risks for drivers in rush hour traffic, such activity may also involve unnecessary risk for rail employees in the course of their duties on the job, and some investigators are calling for stricter regulation that would impose fines on individuals who make personal calls while on duty. Please advise your members of these risks and remind them that various Federal Agencies regularly subpoena cell phone records in their investigation of rail accidents.