NCDOT BeRailSafe offers free training throughout North Carolina to all Fire, EMS, Rescue and Police departments. NC Operation Lifesaver coordinates its volunteers' activities with BeRailSafe to avoid duplication of efforts and to reach the biggest audience possible in the shortest length of time. Training topics include:
- Personal safety hazards for all first responders
- Pre-planning for rail occurrences
- Evacuation procedures
- Incident command and rail communication
- Investigation and reporting best practices
BeRailSafe’s goal is to mitigate inherent dangers to first responders, optimize patient care and create an environment that minimizes risks for all parties involved in railway incidents while completing efficient and accurate investigations in a safe environment.
BeRailSafe's website is www.berailsafe.org
BeRailSafe training focuses on:
1. Rail Readiness.
BeRailSafe introduces fire, rescue and EMS personnel to important questions such as:
Are you rail ready?
Does your public safety department have a rail readiness plan?
What does your plan include?
Worst case scenario?
Mass casualties or mass evacuation?
What are you going to do?
Who are your mutual aid partners? It trains them to create plans that include:
Emergency Response
Direction and Control
Assignments & Responsibility
Unified Command Plan - Communications with Fire, Police, EMS, Emergency Management, Red Cross, Public Works, Rail Carrier, NTSB, Federal Railroad Administration, hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, etc.
2. Rail Operations and Rail Nomenclature.
The training helps fire, rescue and EMS personnel understand rail operations, the roles of conductors, engineers and others on the train. It also covers understanding the relationships and differences between freight and passenger services. The course prompts personnel to introduce themselves to local railroad personnel. BeRailSafe also encourages firefighters, rescue and EMS personnel to ask local railroad personnel the following questions:
What is the location of emergency equipment on the trains?
Are there railroad terminals or rail yards and how do we respond?
If so, do I know how to gain access?
Are there bridges and trestles in their respective cities, counties or districts?
Is there access for emergency vehicles on those structures?
Are there environmentally sensitive areas in the city, county or district area?
3. Grade Crossing Identification and Train Movement.
Workshops help first responders identify rail grade crossings and document them through ground and overhead pictures, and knowing the locations and types of bridges or trestles in communities. It also teaches personnel ways to learn their emergency contacts, how active crossing signals operate and methods of stopping train movement in emergent situations.
4. Railway Hazards.
Students learn about underground utilities, pipelines, electrical and situational awareness along the right of way that present additional first responder concerns.
5. Evacuation Considerations.
BeRailSafe helps first responders evaluate the logistical and community concerns of evacuations related to railroad cars and rail environments.
6. Personal Safety of First Responders.
Workshops teach personnel about electrical hazards and high pressure danger zones, train movements, and general safe practices on or around rail equipment.
7. Rail Crash Investigation and Best Practices. (POLICE CLASS ONLY)
In addition to the other workshops, the police class focuses on the elements of traffic crash investigation unique to rail-related events. Students are provided with rail crash investigation and report coding examples to use as investigative guides. Students learn the responsibilities of the train conductor and engineer and how to work with rail personnel to complete a comprehensive and safe investigation without unnecessary delay.
CONTACT Roger Smock (BeRailSafe) or Margaret Cannell (NC Operation Lifesaver) to request training.
- Personal safety hazards for all first responders
- Pre-planning for rail occurrences
- Evacuation procedures
- Incident command and rail communication
- Investigation and reporting best practices
BeRailSafe’s goal is to mitigate inherent dangers to first responders, optimize patient care and create an environment that minimizes risks for all parties involved in railway incidents while completing efficient and accurate investigations in a safe environment.
BeRailSafe's website is www.berailsafe.org
BeRailSafe training focuses on:
1. Rail Readiness.
BeRailSafe introduces fire, rescue and EMS personnel to important questions such as:
Are you rail ready?
Does your public safety department have a rail readiness plan?
What does your plan include?
Worst case scenario?
Mass casualties or mass evacuation?
What are you going to do?
Who are your mutual aid partners? It trains them to create plans that include:
Emergency Response
Direction and Control
Assignments & Responsibility
Unified Command Plan - Communications with Fire, Police, EMS, Emergency Management, Red Cross, Public Works, Rail Carrier, NTSB, Federal Railroad Administration, hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, etc.
2. Rail Operations and Rail Nomenclature.
The training helps fire, rescue and EMS personnel understand rail operations, the roles of conductors, engineers and others on the train. It also covers understanding the relationships and differences between freight and passenger services. The course prompts personnel to introduce themselves to local railroad personnel. BeRailSafe also encourages firefighters, rescue and EMS personnel to ask local railroad personnel the following questions:
What is the location of emergency equipment on the trains?
Are there railroad terminals or rail yards and how do we respond?
If so, do I know how to gain access?
Are there bridges and trestles in their respective cities, counties or districts?
Is there access for emergency vehicles on those structures?
Are there environmentally sensitive areas in the city, county or district area?
3. Grade Crossing Identification and Train Movement.
Workshops help first responders identify rail grade crossings and document them through ground and overhead pictures, and knowing the locations and types of bridges or trestles in communities. It also teaches personnel ways to learn their emergency contacts, how active crossing signals operate and methods of stopping train movement in emergent situations.
4. Railway Hazards.
Students learn about underground utilities, pipelines, electrical and situational awareness along the right of way that present additional first responder concerns.
5. Evacuation Considerations.
BeRailSafe helps first responders evaluate the logistical and community concerns of evacuations related to railroad cars and rail environments.
6. Personal Safety of First Responders.
Workshops teach personnel about electrical hazards and high pressure danger zones, train movements, and general safe practices on or around rail equipment.
7. Rail Crash Investigation and Best Practices. (POLICE CLASS ONLY)
In addition to the other workshops, the police class focuses on the elements of traffic crash investigation unique to rail-related events. Students are provided with rail crash investigation and report coding examples to use as investigative guides. Students learn the responsibilities of the train conductor and engineer and how to work with rail personnel to complete a comprehensive and safe investigation without unnecessary delay.
CONTACT Roger Smock (BeRailSafe) or Margaret Cannell (NC Operation Lifesaver) to request training.