Home
Hudson County Executive, Thomas A. DeGise, is the latest political leader in NJ to join the NJT Labor Coalition in calling for NJT to recognize PEB249 as fair and reasonable.
Well written and comprehensive explanation regarding our negotiations;
When you receive notice that a hearing and investigation is scheduled for an incident that you also reported to C3RS, be advised of the following:
When NJT initiates an investigation of an unsafe event or condition and an employee(s) indicates that the event or condition has been reported in accordance with the C3RS/IMOU, the time limits for pursuing discipline will be put in abeyance if necessary, pending a confirmation receipt from NASA.
When a receipt is available for review (NASA sends it via US Mail), YOU must forward it to our designated C3RS railroad manager, Rich Green Jr. (Fax: (201) 649-1987, email: rmgreen1@njtransit.com). When the designated C3RS railroad manager determines that the receipt is applicable to the event, the investigation will be closed.
IMPORTANT: Do not throw away your receipt from NASA. A replacement receipt will not be available. Keep a copy of this receipt for your records.
As always, if you have any questions regarding this matter, email me at jkehoe@utulocal60.com or see a Local 60 representative.
During the course of Summer 2015, beginning with Dover and Morrisville on July 20, the NJT C3RS Peer Review Team (PRT) will be visiting various terminals to discuss several issues that are important to all members. Since 2009, your PRT has received and analyzed over 500 reports submitted to the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The system the PRT has been trained on, and utilizes when investigating C3RS reports, is called Multiple Cause Incident Analysis (MCIA). The word “multiple” holds special significance to us as we always find that there are multiple factors that lead to ‘close calls”. The PRT has found that two factors present themselves in almost every case we analyze and are being given special attention during this special PRT Safety Forum.
The first factor we want to discuss is “Situational Awareness”. Many definitions are used when describing situational awareness. Some call it “paying attention, some call it “keeping your head in the game”, others may describe it as “staying on the ball”. Whatever term or phrase is used, one thing is clear; this factor is the number one component of the vast majority of C3RS reports.
The PRT has taken on the challenge to find out what causes the loss of situational awareness and how to prevent it. We’ve enlisted the help of NJT’s Office of System Safety and they have reached out to a potentially great resource, Liberty Mutual Insurance. They are leaders in “risk reduction” and “situational awareness” and we are excited to see what tools, programs and suggestions they have for us in our quest to combat this very real problem.
The second factor we want to bring special attention to is “Safety Job Briefings” (SJB). The lack of a SJB, or thorough SJB, has been found as another leading factor in most C3RS reports. The PRT has taken several steps to assist in this matter including recommending dedicated SJB rooms (the first 2 of which are currently being installed in Hoboken and NYP) and also developing the helpful SJB tri-fold that has been shown to be a helpful resource not only when conducting a SJB but through the course of the workday. The PRT now is adding an additional piece to the puzzle; a “Safety Job Briefing Checklist”. We feel that the use of this checklist when conducting a SJB will prove to be a tremendous help to both new trainees and seasoned veterans alike. Conducting a SJB in a consistent, clear and professional manner will help ALL of us to become better Train and Engine Service Professionals.
We are asking all Train Crews to use the Checklist samples that are being provided to you with an open mind and report back to us after this week via email at feedback@njtc3rs.com with any comments or suggestions you have regarding the design or use of this form.
With the expansion of the C3RS program boundaries to include all Amtrak territory, the NJT PRT expressed a desire to have periodic meetings with the Amtrak-East PRT to discuss how to proceed with close calls reported by NJT members that occur on Amtrak property (all close call reports made by NJT employees are forwarded to the NJT PRT, regardless of location). To that end, NJT and Amtrak-East PRT held their inaugural meeting on Friday, June 12, 2015. More information can be found at our NJT C3rs website.
NJT and the unions covered by C3RS have agreed to allow occurrences where our members find passengers in unauthorized areas (when a passenger is taken to the yard or left on train at final stop) be protected from railroad discipline. This is a 6 month trial beginning June 1, 2015. As always, we remind all members to be as detailed as possible in any C3RS report they make. The more information provided to the Peer Review Team the better. Information and updates regarding C3RS is always available at the PRT’s website at njtc3rs.com.
Below is the text from the IMOU revision
Effective June 1, 2015, for a trial period of six months ending November 30, 2015, Article 6.2, Item 9 of the current NJ TRANSIT C3RS IMOU will provide protection from Railroad discipline. During this trial period the NJT PRT will provide the carrier with a monthly report of the total number of cases concerning Article 6.2, Item 9 with a breakdown of how many are unknown events vs. known events.
Prior to the conclusion of this six month trial period, the stakeholders agree to discuss the continuation of this agreement.
The Parties below approve this addition to the IMOU and the principles of the Confidential Close Call Reporting System.
As posted on njtc3rs.com:
In the wake of the Metro-North accident, NJT’s C3RS PRT developed a correction action (presented March 24, 2014) recommending installing Approach Permanent Speed Limit Signs at locations where there is a 30MPH or more drop from Maximum Authorized Speed. At that time, the Support Team indicated that it had a more effective solution, Cab Signal Indication Code Reduction, a.k.a. “phantom code drops” utilizing the existing cab signal system. We also submitted a list of 9 locations that the PRT felt were a priority.
The PRT has been informed that our Recommended Corrective Action has been approved and the installation of the signs and code drops has begun. A list of sites will be published by NJT in the next few weeks.
NJT Alerts