Policy Concerning Post Incident Management Programs

The Massachusetts Railroad Association (the "Association") is an organization composed of railroads operating in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The purpose of the organization is to address matters of interest in the Commonwealth relative to the operation of rail service.

The Association’s member railroads endeavor always to maintain a working environment safe for their employees, customers and the communities they serve. National programs such as Operation Lifesaver in combination with high profile safety awareness efforts by the individual companies has resulted in a dramatic decrease in rail related incidents over the past 10 years.

The railroads do recognize, however, that in an industry moving large equipment over thousands of miles of track, incidents can occur involving serious injury and death. The members of the Association are committed to providing assistance to their employees to aid them in managing the stress which may result from these incidents.

This policy statement concerns the principles for development of post incident management programs for train crew employees of the member railroad companies who are involved in train incidents, including incidents which result in serious bodily injury or loss of life. It is the policy of the Association to encourage its members to have in place procedures to provide appropriate assistance to train crew members where necessary, based upon the requirements of the individuals involved. The member railroads of the Association have identified the following principles, which should form a basis for an internal program to address post incident crew issues:

1. Following the occurrence of an incident, appropriate supervisory and safety personnel and/or police officers of the railroad should be immediately dispatched to the scene of the incident.
2. Based upon an interview of the crew members at the scene, an individual crew member may be directed by the railroad’s supervisory or safety personnel to be excused from completing his/her remaining shift if he/she appears to be too traumatized to continue working.
3. In addition, each crew member may at his/her option elect to discontinue working at that point if he/she feels that he/she is not able to continue with the train.
4. Any crew member excused from his/her shift (whether at the direction of railroad personnel or at his/her own choosing), will be compensated as if he/she completed his/her full shift. The determination of whether a crew member should be excused from his/her shift should take into consideration the totality of the circumstances involved in the incident, including the nature and severity of the incident and the individual crew member’s reaction to the incident.
5. If a crew member involved in the incident is in need of immediate medical attention, he/she will be transported to an appropriate medical facility.
6. Following completion of the investigation at the scene, which should include statements being taken from crewmembers, a crew member who has been excused from duty should be transported back to his/her reporting location.
7. If the crew members are deemed able and willing to continue with the train, then the train and crew will be released to continue the shift.
8. Following any incident, crew members will be provided information concerning counseling services available through the railroad’s employee assistance program or similar program and will be encouraged to make use of these services.
9. On a case by case basis, crew members may be provided the opportunity to take leave for a period of time appropriate to the circumstances of the incident. Such leave may be granted following consultation between the crew member, railroad supervising personnel and/or other qualified personnel experienced in management of critical incident stress. During leave, crew members may be required to participate in a counseling program to assist them in coming to terms with the incident. The availability and necessity of leave should be determined on a case by case basis taking into account such factors as the nature and severity of the incident and the individual crew member’s reaction to the incident.
10. On a case by case basis in consultation with the employee’s supervisor and other appropriate personnel, an employee returning to work following an incident may receive an alternative assignment, if available, for a period of time to permit the employee to adjust back into his/her role.

The Association feels strongly that issues concerning appropriate counseling of crew employees and their fitness for return to work are matters that can and should be properly addressed by each respective railroad through the adoption and implementation of an appropriate post incident management program. Given that individuals react differently to stressful situations, post incident management programs should be flexible enough to allow individual crew members to participate in counseling and other supportive resources as is appropriate to the individual. A post incident management program is most appropriately addressed on a case by case basis in consultation with the employee’s supervisor and other appropriate personnel experienced in the management of critical incident stress. Post incident management programs should be available as part of a comprehensive human resources policy. Best management practices within the railroad industry provide for these services for railroad employees.