0339 Default

Daniel Riels Tribute - 10/5/2009

http://0339.utu.org/Files/[2423]DanielWRiels.pdf

2009 Personal Leave and Vacation Calendar - 8/25/2009

The calendar is updated daily

http://0339.utu.org/Files/[1074]2009%20calendar%201.pdf

Online Hazmat Training - 5/26/2009

Emergency Responder Awareness Level 101 - http://nlc.blackboard.com
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Online registration info - jbrown@nlc.edu

http://www.nlc.edu/~bcantrell/trainingonline.htm

The National Labor College at the George Meany Campus
Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program

Online Hazmat Awareness Level Course Description

Uncontrolled releases of chemicals can be extremely dangerous, especially in transportation. Emergency responders, including first responders, are particularly at risk. Any worker who is likely to witness or discover a hazardous materials spill or release is considered a first responder and is required by law to be trained by the employer. Any worker involved in the clean up of a hazardous materials incident is considered to be part of the post-emergency response activities and is required by law to be trained by the employer.

As a rail worker, you have the potential for exposure to hazardous materials in the event of a derailment, a spill or release in the yard, working on or inspecting rail cars, or maintaining and repairing track. Hazardous materials regulations require that a worker be trained in all of these situations.

This course is being presented to provide rail workers with an understanding of the roles, rights, and responsibilities of working with hazardous materials, and is designed for rail workers who may witness or discover a HAZMAT release or accident, and who may be responsible for initiating the emergency response process.

Several years ago, the rail program received supplemental funds from NIEHS to develop a web-based HAZMAT training course for rail workers. The course was designed to meet worker-training requirements of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for hazardous materials in transportation - including emergency and post-emergency response. The online course provides first responder training at the awareness and familiarization levels.

The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program's online awareness course was specifically developed to reach an underserved and under-trained population of geographically dispersed rail workers from the U.S. and Canada. It is intended that this course will provide greater access to effective HAZMAT training for rail workers who are unable to participate in on-site classroom training courses.

Description

The awareness/familiarization level training provided in this online course has been adapted from a traditional 8-hour classroom-based training course. The length of time to complete the online version of the course depends upon the individual participant's level of computer and navigation skills, amount of time exploring external links, and individual system capacity.

Topics covered in this course include: an introduction to hazardous materials and the role of the first responder; federal regulatory agencies; DOT's Hazardous Materials Regulations; recognition and identification of hazardous materials in transportation; how to use the 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook; chemical properties; how to use online resources: NIOSH Pocket Guide, New Jersey Hazardous Substances Fact Sheets, and Material Safety Data Sheets; and an introduction to toxicology.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to indicate the role of a first responder, and workers' rights and responsibilities when working with hazardous materials.

The mission of this training course is twofold:

To provide rail workers with appropriate and effective training in hazardous materials transportation and emergency response regulations as required by: DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (49CFR, Parts 171-180), and the HAZWOPER Standard (OSHA 1910.120) covering emergency and post-emergency response.
To provide rail workers with the essential skills and knowledge in the critical area of hazardous materials in a continuing effort to achieve the highest level of worker and public safety, and environmental protection.

Evaluation

Student performance will be evaluated by pre- and post-training questionnaire. Data from these questionnaires is used to evaluate the effectiveness of training - based upon pre and post training data comparisons. The questions and quizzes included in modules are intended for self-evaluation, and to reinforce learning; responses to the questions are not recorded or included in evaluation data. Data from Discussion Board postings is confidential, but may be used by grant staff to support the goals of the training program.

CN/NS MidAmerica Corridor - 2/10/2009

Good News for Fulton

CN and Norfolk Southern Corporation announced today an initiative to create a "MidAmerica Corridor" in which the railroads will share track between Chicago, St. Louis, Kentucky, and Mississippi to establish shorter and faster routes for merchandise and coal traffic moving between the Midwest and Southeast.

This initiative, when finalized through definitive agreements, will have three components. First, Norfolk Southern (NS) will haul CN freight between Chicago and St. Louis, reducing the distance between these points for CN shipments by 60 miles and providing improved connections to other rail carriers through the St. Louis gateway.

Second, NS will use CN’s routes between St. Louis and Fulton, Ky., as part of a new, more efficient route from the Midwest to the Southeast, saving more than 50 miles on NS shipments.

Third, CN will haul NS freight between Chicago and Fulton, shortening NS’s Chicago-to-Birmingham route by almost 100 miles.

As part of the MidAmerica Corridor, CN and NS plan to create a new coal gateway at Corinth, Miss., to better link NS-served southeastern utility plants with CN-served Illinois Basin coal producers.

A key component of the new initiative is the West Tennessee Railroad between Fulton and Corinth, which will be upgraded to handle heavier shipments and additional rail traffic.

Editors: Downloadable map illustrating the MidAmerica corridor is available by clicking on the link http://www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/pdf/CN_NS.pdf.

E. Hunter Harrison, president and chief executive officer of CN, said: "This innovative track-sharing arrangement will expedite our customers’ shipments, improve asset utilization and generate new efficiencies for both CN and NS."

Wick Moorman, chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern, said: "The MidAmerica Corridor is an important partnership that will create better routes for shippers on both railroads. On the Norfolk Southern system, it will help level demand on our busy north-south routes, while improving service and velocity for many more customers."

The initiative will be finalized with the completion of definitive agreements and approval for the exchange of trackage rights with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in the next few months

Welcome to the new website for local 339.

Local News

In the next couple of weeks each member will be receiving a pamphlet on first responder awareness. The information in this pamphlet will help each member know what to do in case of a hazardous material incident. This information is authorized by the DOT and provided by a federal grant from the National Labor College.