Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 31, 2006

Metro to step up safety procedures in light of workers’ deaths

Metro is beefing up its work site safety procedures after the deaths of two track workers in the last seven months.

The Transit Authority’s Interim General Manager Dan Tangherlini announced today a “safety blitz” of Metrorail work sites beginning Sunday. More than a dozen safety officers will be checking work sites to ensure employees are following safety rules. They’ll also quiz employees about the rules.

Trains also will automatically slow down to around 15 miles per hour when they come upon track work sites. Trains usually travel between 15 and 59 miles per hour.

“We also will implement mandatory field radio checks of all personnel who are working on the tracks. These radio and telephone checks ensure that we know where employees are every hour that they are on the tracks,” Tangherlini said.

Transit managers also are reviewing the manual flag signal system to alert trains to slow, stop or resume travel on the tracks.

Managers do not expect the changes to significantly slow down the travel times of riders, since most track work occurs during the night and weekend hours when the arrival times between trains are greater.

The agency also is working with the American Public Transportation Association to set up a panel of safety experts to review Metro’s procedures and training. Metro officials announced earlier this month they were partnering with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents about 7,000 of Metro’s 10,000 employees, to conduct a comprehensive review of employee safety.

Jong Won Lee, 49, who was an automatic train control technician, was struck and killed by a train on May 14. In October 2005, Michael Waldron, 47, a track and structures employee, was also struck and killed by a Metrorail train. Lee’s death is under investigation by the agency and National Transportation Safety Board’s regional office. An internal investigation found human error was the main cause of Waldron’s death.

News release issued on May 31, 2006.