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Accident Investigation Summary Report CFE-2021-16

Document Series
Accident Investigations
Author
Federal Railroad Administration
Accident Date
Accident Type
Employee Fatality
Railroad Name
Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP)
Location

Castroville, TX
United States

Accident Number
CFE-2021-16
Investigation Status
Finalized
Subject Accident Investigations
Keywords
Union Pacific, UP, Castroville, Texas, fatality, hi-rail excavator, steel grating, bridge maintenance

On September 22, 2021, at approximately 2:40 p.m., CDT, a contractor for Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) was fatally injured while performing maintenance work on a bridge in Castroville, Texas, near Milepost 240.65 on UP’s Del Rio Subdivision. The contractor, operating a hi-rail excavator with a tie-talon attachment, was transporting 6,660 pounds of steel grating when the load shifted, causing the grating to penetrate the cab and fatally pin him. Investigations revealed violations of job safety protocols and misuse of equipment not designed for the task, contributing to the accident.


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Last updated: Monday, December 16, 2024