It is with great sadness to inform the staff and officers of TWU Local 100 that once again our union has suffered an on track fatality . A Construction Flagger has been struck by a train and killed at Church Ave on the F Line . A second Construction Flagger is injured and under going treatment, the severity of injuries still being assessed . The Train Operator is also in the hospital receiving treatment for shock and trauma.
Immediately , all work crews are to terminate maintenance and construction assignments on the trackway. A safety stand down is in effect. Local 100 members are not to re-enter the trackway until safety stand downs are completed.
The fatality occurred while two Flaggers were setting out flagging lights on a curve . The union has already physically assessed the scene and will be engaging management on the specific dangers of that particular work assignment , and the underlying causes of this fatal accident. Union officers and staff are at the scene of the accident as well the hospitals where our members have been taken .
The work we do to keep this city moving is dangerous and often fatal. In the aftermath of this fatality it is imperative that union officers and staff be out amongst the members reinforcing safe work practices. Our first goal is to do our best to ensure a work environment that is safe and that allows transit workers to return safely home to their families each day. We must redouble our efforts enforce safe work practices across our system . We work in perhaps the most dangerous work environment in New York and industrial accidents will occur, but through aggressive enforcement and aggressive utilization of unannounced safety inspections , we can mitigate against future tragedies.
I have spoken to NYC Transit Ronnie Hakem and she agreed to an immediate stand down of work, but under no circumstances are any union officers or staff to allow our members back onto the trackway prior to safety stand meetings today.
Thank you.
John Samuelsen
President, Transport Workers Union, Local 100
Executive Vice President, TWU of America
195 Montague St 3rd floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
“TWU Local 100 – We Move New York"
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