Adhere to Blue Flag protection rules to protect men working on or near on-track equipment. Blue Flag protection is designed to be much like lockout/tag-out procedures. Notification must be provided by the placing of a blue flag or light to notify those who might have access to the track to STAY OUT. Additionally, and this is very important, the switch or a derailing device must be placed to divert inadvertent on-track movement onto the protected track. It is important to know that a rolling railcar has no means to notify workers of its approach: no horn, no wheels making noise, no running engine.

If your people are working on or near on-track equipment that could be struck, your Blue Flag procedures need to be reviewed.