Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and PreventionRichards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
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Railroad Accidents, Their Cause and Prevention
Richards, R. C. (Ralph Coffin)
Railroad accidents
35. Whenever an accident happens to any train on which passengers
are carried, whether collision or derailment, of whatever nature,
on main line or siding, or within the yard limits where trains are
reconstructed, conductors must take down the name and address of
every passenger on the train, and ascertain from the passenger,
and note opposite his or her name, what injury, if any, they
received. In such cases, conductors, after first making everything
safe, must give their undivided attention to the care and comfort
of their passengers, especially to those who are injured. Bedding
and linen may be taken from the sleepers for this purpose, the
conductor keeping a careful account of all material so taken, and
its return or safe keeping attended to; and when deemed necessary,
injured persons may be put in the sleepers. When a number of
persons are injured the service of competent surgeons in the
vicinity should be at once secured, and every possible effort made
to care for the injured, the company's surgeon in each direction
being notified by wire to come immediately to the place of the
accident.
36. When persons (other than employees) by reason of climbing on
or jumping from moving trains, or walking or lying on the track,
are injured, they should be sent to their homes or placed in
charge of the local city, village, or township authorities and no
expense incurred on the part of the company in the matter.
37. A report of all accidents must be telegraphed immediately to
the Superintendent or his assistant by the conductor, engineman,
agent, yardmaster, foreman, or person in charge, by wire, giving
the names of the injured persons and witnesses, the extent of
injuries, and the names of the owners of the property damaged and
the extent of damage, and as soon as possible a full and detailed
report made and forwarded to the Superintendent or his assistant,
a separate report being made for each person injured. If the
person injured is an employee he should also make and sign a
statement of facts in relation to the accident in his own
handwriting on the same form; should he be unable to write, the
statement should be written at his dictation, and after being read
over to him he should sign it by making his mark, the person
writing and reading statement signing same as a witness.
38. Whenever an employee, whether on duty or not, witnesses an
accident in which a person is injured or property damaged, in
which the company is in any way concerned, he must report it
immediately. Every effort must be made to procure the names and
addresses of all persons, particularly outsiders, who witnessed
the accident, especially when persons are injured within the
corporate limits of any city, town, or village, or when crossing
the tracks at a public highway.
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