Freight rail companies expected to join safety reporting system
Last edited Thu Mar 2, 2023, 08:16 PM - Edit history (2)
Source: CNN
CNN — A federal agency has issued a new advisory urging major freight rail companies “to take immediate safety measures to look at the performance of the protective coverings over the pressure relief valves,” a spokesperson for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Thursday. The advisory, which does not mandate the measures, came as federal investigators probe further into the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Several cars from the Norfolk Southern train were carrying the highly combustible chemical vinyl chloride when they derailed. The fiery wreck has since sparked outrage and health concerns in the local community. Pressure relief devices are designed to prevent pressure inside tank cars from building up and potentially causing an explosion.After the train derailed, officials determined at least one train car containing vinyl chloride had malfunctioning safety valves, and authorities worried pressure buildup in that car could lead to a catastrophic explosion of the chemical – hurling toxic fumes and deadly shrapnel up to a mile away.
Crews averted such an explosion by breaching cars containing vinyl chloride, draining the hazardous chemical into a trench and burning it off. Several of the tank cars had aluminum coverings meant to protect the valves and relieve pressure from tank cars to prevent damage, according to the PHMSA – a branch of the US Department of Transportation.
“In this instance, the aluminum housing covers melted in the fire caused from the derailment,” a PHMSA spokesperson told CNN. “That’s why we are issuing this Safety Advisory … that requests all rail companies review their fleets to determine if they have aluminum protective coverings and consider actions including replacing these covers with steel that can withstand greater exposure to heat and fire.” The advisory comes as all seven major freight rail companies in the United States, including Norfolk Southern, are expected to announce their participation in a voluntary safety reporting program, a Biden administration source told CNN Thursday.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/us/ohio-train-derailment-east-palestine-thursday/index.html
Full headline:Freight rail companies expected to join safety reporting system after melted equipment in Ohio disaster spurs federal advisory
Article updated.
Previous article/headline -
CNN -- A federal agency has issued a new advisory urging major freight rail companies "to take immediate safety measures to look at the performance of the protective coverings over the pressure relief valves," a spokesperson for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Thursday.
The advisory, which does not mandate the measures, came as federal investigators probe further into the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent release of a toxic chemical. The fiery wreck has since sparked outrage and health concerns in the local community. Several of the tank cars had aluminum coverings meant to protect the valves and relieve pressure from tank cars to prevent damage, according to the PHMSA - a branch of the US Department of Transportation.
"In this instance, the aluminum housing covers melted in the fire caused from the derailment," a PHMSA spokesperson told CNN. "That's why we are issuing this Safety Advisory ... that requests all rail companies review their fleets to determine if they have aluminum protective coverings and consider actions including replacing these covers with steel that can withstand greater exposure to heat and fire."
The advisory comes as all seven major freight rail companies in the US are expected to announce their participation on a voluntary safety reporting program, a Biden administration source told CNN Thursday. The companies include Norfolk Southern, the operator of the train that derailed last month.
Original article/headline -
CNN -- [Breaking news update at 3:56 p.m. ET]
A federal agency has issued a new advisory urging major freight rail companies "to take immediate safety measures to look at the performance of the protective coverings over the pressure relief valves," a spokesperson for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Thursday. The advisory, which does not mandate the measures, came as federal investigators probe further into the fiery wreck.
Several of the tank cars had aluminum coverings meant to protect the valves and relieve pressure from tank cars to prevent damage, according to the PHMSA - a branch of the US Department of Transportation.
"In this instance, the aluminum housing covers melted in the fire caused from the derailment," a PHMSA spokesperson told CNN.
"That's why we are issuing this Safety Advisory ... that requests all rail companies review their fleets to determine if they have aluminum protective coverings and consider actions including replacing these covers with steel that can withstand greater exposure to heat and fire."
= new reply since forum marked as read
"The aluminum doesn't work as well as steel - so...............
maybe, just maybe, you might want to 'consider' switching?"
And THAT counts as PROTECTING AMERICANS?????? 
much like the 'required' upgrade of braking systems - the opposition to 'regulations' wins whenever we have something other than the safety of our citizens being considered.
Sort of like how some (ahem..... we know who!) would now demand that they be called "THE TEN SUGGESTIONS" - not "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." 
