Authors: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Date of Publication: 1979
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Performing Organization: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Report No: SR-79-2
Abstract:
As a direct result of Safety Board efforts, the Department of Transportation
in 1978 adopted an accelerated schedule for retrofitting tank cars carrying
hazardous materials with safety equipment to protect against tank-head puncture
and thermal rupture in accidents. One of the Safety Board’s safety objectives
during FY 1979 was to monitor the retrofit program to see that the safety
modifications are completed as soon as possible. Review and monitoring of the tank car safety retrofit program indicate that: (1) The shelf coupler retrofit for DOT 112/114 tank cars. was virtually
completed within 6 months of the announcement of the accelerated schedule. (2 ) Headshields are not being retrofitted as rapidly as possible. (3 ) As a result of retrofit problems and the structure of the regulations,
headshield installations on more than 1,000 tank cars may be delayed up to 1
year. (4 ) Shelf couplers and/or headshields performed effectively in protecting
against tank-head puncture in two derailments investigated by the Safety Board
in FY 1979. (5) On one recommendation, the Department of Transportation has exceeded the
statutory time limit on responding to Safety Board recommendations. (6 ) The Federal Railroad Administration agrees that DOT 105 tank cars should
also be equipped with shelf couplers, but is unnecessarily delaying rulemaking
action.
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