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MAINTENANCE OF WAY OPERATING RULES—December 2, 2009 12-1 12.0 Adjacent Track Operations 12.1 Occupying Track Adjacent to Live Tracks Before fouling a track adjacent to a live track (one subject to train operation), review this instruction as part of the daily job briefing. Two or more tracks are considered to be adjacent when their centers are spaced less than 25 feet apart. When working on a track adjacent to a live track, establish on-track safety as necessary to protect against trains passing on the adjacent track. The requirements for on-track equipment operators and workers on the ground follow in this instruction. To determine if authority or protection is required on adjacent tracks, the employee in charge must consider factors such as the following: Right-of-way conditions involved in reaching the identified place of safety Curvature of the track Sight distance Speed of passing trains Spacing of workers and equipment in the work group Background noise Risk of distraction On-Track Equipment Operators of on-track equipment working adjacent to a live track will place standard signs reading "Danger — Live Track" across the entrance/exit on the live track side of their machines if so equipped. Otherwise, another physical restraint must be placed to restrict access to that point. When the equipment is designed to enter/exit from either side, the employee in charge must instruct all personnel to utilize the field side when: Getting on or off the equipment Transferring tools or material Conversing with the occupant(s) of the equipment Note: Where there are live tracks on both sides of the equipment, the employee in charge must designate in the job briefing which side to use. When equipment being operated or material being handled will foul the adjacent live track, establish working limits on that adjacent track to prevent unannounced movement past the work area. Establish the working limits on a main track or controlled siding in conjunction with a track bulletin Form B when details of the project are known enough in advance to meet the established timelines for requesting the Form B. Do not operate on-track equipment while a train is passing on an adjacent track if the equipment, while operating, will foul the adjacent track. Do not perform maintenance with on-track equipment while a train is passing on an adjacent main track or controlled siding, except as outlined under MWOR 12.2 Special Operating Guidelines. When the conditions of these guidelines cannot be met: Stop the equipment. Secure the equipment against movement. Inspect the passing train.