C3RS — Identifying Safety Risks in Railroad Operations

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About C3RS

A resource for railroad carriers and employees to:

  • Confidentially report safety risks in railroad operations without disciplinary action.
  • Develop solutions to reduce risk before an accident happens.
Confidential reports are sent to the third party Bureau of Transportation Statistics, (BTS).

Close Call — an opportunity for improving safety practices in a situation with a potential for more serious consequences

Trends in Railroad Safety

  • Railroad safety programs focus on data collection from reportable accidents.
  • Reportable accidents have declined since 1995.
  • Railroads can reduce risks before an accident by analyzing close calls.

Benefits to C3RS

  • Railroad carriers — C3RS identifies and corrects weaknesses in a railroad's safety system prior to an unsafe event.
  • Labor organizations — C3RS uncovers previously unreported hidden unsafe conditions.
  • FRA — C3RS provides important safety information and helps FRA to perform its oversight role by monitoring C3RS Demonstration Project Sites.

C3RS Demonstration Project Sites

Carriers — find out about the C3RS demonstration sites — read more.

C3RS Timeline

  • June 2002: FRA forms Close Calls Steering Committee to study the value of a close call reporting system for the railroad industry
  • April 2003: FRA sponsors Close Calls Human Factors Workshop: Improving Railroad Safety Through Understanding Close Calls
  • March 2005: Close Calls Steering Committee signs FRA-sponsored C3RS Demonstration Project MOU
  • July 2005: C3RS website launched
  • December 2005: UP North Platte Service Unit becomes first demonstration site
  • February 2007: BTS starts accepting reports
  • March 2008: CP Chicago Service Unit Area Road Territory becomes second demonstration site

To initiate a close call report, call C3RS at (866) 683-9265 or (888) LOV-C3RS

U.S. Department of TransportationSponsored by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration

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