PTS Positions of Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A worker leaves the position of safety briefly to retrieve a forgotten item before the all-clear is given. What rule does this violate?
- Workers must remain in the position of safety until the entire train and any trailing equipment have fully cleared the area (Correct answer)
- Workers may not leave a position of safety without supervisor approval at any time
- Workers must have a buddy accompany them if they leave the position of safety
- Workers must radio the dispatcher before leaving a position of safety
Correct answer: Workers must remain in the position of safety until the entire train and any trailing equipment have fully cleared the area
Leaving a position of safety before the train and all trailing equipment have fully cleared is a serious PTS violation and endangers the worker's life.
Question 2: What is the key difference between a 'place of safety' and a 'position of safety' as used in PTS terminology?
- A place of safety is a broader area (e.g., a building or yard), while a position of safety is a specific, defined spot used during track work (Correct answer)
- A place of safety requires dispatcher approval; a position of safety does not
- A position of safety applies only to lone workers; a place of safety applies to gangs
- There is no difference — the terms are interchangeable in FRA regulations
Correct answer: A place of safety is a broader area (e.g., a building or yard), while a position of safety is a specific, defined spot used during track work
A 'place of safety' often refers to a broader location away from track hazards, while a 'position of safety' is the specific, pre-identified location used during active track work when trains may pass.
Question 3: At a highway-rail grade crossing worksite, a worker identifies the pedestrian crossing area as their position of safety. Why could this be problematic?
- Pedestrian crossings can intersect with road traffic, creating a secondary hazard (Correct answer)
- Grade crossings are always too close to the track to serve as a position of safety
- Only the flagperson may occupy crossing areas during active protection
- Crossing surfaces create slip hazards in wet conditions
Correct answer: Pedestrian crossings can intersect with road traffic, creating a secondary hazard
A highway-rail crossing area may expose a worker to road vehicle traffic while they wait for the train to pass, creating a secondary hazard that disqualifies it as a safe position.
Question 4: How far in advance of a train's arrival should workers typically be in their position of safety under standard PTS requirements?
- In position before the train arrives — the specific advance time depends on the approach warning system in use (Correct answer)
- Exactly 30 seconds before the train passes
- As the locomotive becomes visible at the worksite
- Only once the train horn is heard at the worksite
Correct answer: In position before the train arrives — the specific advance time depends on the approach warning system in use
Workers must be in the position of safety before the train arrives, with the required advance warning time determined by the protection method (lookout, flagging, etc.) used at the site.
Question 5: A roadway worker is standing 4.5 feet from the nearest rail, watching a train pass. A large piece of timber stacked on a flatcar overhangs the car's side by 2 feet. Is the worker in danger?
- Yes — the overhang extends the effective strike zone and could hit the worker (Correct answer)
- No — the 4.5-foot clearance is sufficient for all legal train loads
- No — overhanging loads are always secured before departure and cannot shift
- Yes — but only if the timber is taller than the worker
Correct answer: Yes — the overhang extends the effective strike zone and could hit the worker
Loads that overhang beyond the normal car profile can extend into the fouling area and strike workers who are within the standard minimum clearance distance.
Question 6: Which of the following describes the CORRECT sequence of events for a train approach at a PTS work site?
- Lookout detects train → gives warning signal → workers move to position of safety → train passes → foreman gives all-clear → work resumes (Correct answer)
- Train horn sounds → workers move to position of safety → foreman notifies dispatcher → work resumes
- Dispatcher notifies foreman → foreman tells workers → workers move to position of safety → train passes
- Workers stop work → foreman detects train → lookout gives warning → workers move to safety
Correct answer: Lookout detects train → gives warning signal → workers move to position of safety → train passes → foreman gives all-clear → work resumes
The correct sequence is: lookout detects the approaching train, gives the warning signal, all workers reach the position of safety, the train fully passes, then the foreman issues an all-clear before work resumes.
Question 7: Why is it important that all workers know the position of safety BEFORE work begins, rather than identifying it when a train approaches?
- There is insufficient time during a train approach to identify, communicate, and reach a safe position (Correct answer)
- FRA regulations require that positions be filed with the dispatcher before each work period
- Identifying positions during a train approach would require additional lookout personnel
- Train approach noise makes verbal communication of positions impossible
Correct answer: There is insufficient time during a train approach to identify, communicate, and reach a safe position
When a train is approaching, the remaining time is needed for movement — not for decision-making — so pre-identifying positions of safety is critical to worker survival.
PTS Positions of Safety 5
A worker leaves the position of safety briefly to retrieve a forgotten item before the all-clear is given.
What rule does this violate?