Document 21nmyDJzNJ01LzQ5ZjV7Ep66

dressier, John (OGC) From: Sent: To: Subject: Spangler, Kevin C. (LVL) Friday, December 11,1998 8:22 AM Quester, David D. (OGC); Selvage, Paul A. (OGC); Unger, Joseph R. (OGC); Bartz, Jerry A. (LNB); Bialko, Jerry C. (OGC); Bodine, Kevin F. (PLQ); Burrell, Chris (HNY); Cote, Francios S. (ALGC); Fletcher, Tom J. (SCT); Manning, Tim G. (LPT); Stolfo, Carl M. (PED); Barnes, Jason E. (OGC); Comeaux, Mackie A. (PLQ); DesJardins, Robert (DPK); Kaminski, Mitch J. (TRH); Lamble, Noia J. (SCT); Lesko, William F. (LPT); O'Keefe, Dennis P. (PED); Shelley, David A. (LNB); Waltemate, Herman (OGC); Wei, Jim A. (PED); Livermore, Holly L. (DPK); Hinson, David J. (LPT); Cameron, Kathy K. (LPT); Gressler, John (OGC); Higby, Glenn E. (HOU); Beeler, Edward L. (OGC); DiRienzo, David J. (OGC); McWhirter, Byron E. (DPK); Waher, Mike U. (NIA); Davis, Ron (NIA); Wronko, Robert R. (LPT); Delisio, James J. (LVL); Martin, Ron (TRH); Johnson, Scott D. (HNY); Martin, Ron (TRH) Louisville VCM Railcar Derailment 12/1/98 The Geon Company - Louisville Plant VCM Railcar Derailment Summary On December 1, 1998, , Material Handling Relief Operator, was driving the skidder to switch VCM railcars. The skidder lost traction and slid off into the center of the tracks at die derail causing it to flip up. One set of trucks on the empty VCM railcar was pulled over the derail causing the car to derail. No injuries or damage occurred. On December 2, 1998, a Board of Review was conducted with the following in attendance: Paul Reger Dave Hicks Steve Brown Frank Levy Kevin Spangler Plant Manager Health, Safety, Environmental, Utilities and HR Manager Resin Production Manager LPA Safety Training Supervisor Sr. Safety/Environmental Engineer Material Handling Relief Operator Corrective Actions 1. Replace tires on track mobile. (Jim Hafling 12/15/98) 2. Insure track mobile is still operating as a 4 wheel drive unit (Jim Hafling 12/15/98) 3. Check on changing pressure on track mobile tires for better traction. (Frank Levy 12/11/98) 4. Check the cost of the present skidder versus the cost of leasing a track mobile made for moving railcars. (Steve Broun) Narrative On December 1, (998, :ank farm operator where switching VCM railcars for the morning unloading. was driving the skidder while i was working as the brakeman. The operators completed the first switch of replacing the empty cars on the west unloading tracks with two full cars. then pulled the three empties on the cast-unloading track and proceeded to connect the two full cars on the storage tracks. While pulling the train of three empties and two full VCM cars north, the skidder's tires lost traction just before the derailer on track 6. The skidder slid to the west, dropping the rear tire between the tracks. Unknown tc the knobs on the tire grabbed the derailer and flipped it up straightened out the skidder pulling one set of trucks of the empty VCM railcar over the derailer redacted 1 NGC 13616 I resulting in a derailment. PAL Railroad was called in and re-railed the VCM car. Facts 1. has been a driving the skidder for 5 years. 2. This switch takes place every morning that the plant is in operation. 3. No injuries or damage occurred 4. The Railcar remained upright. 5. The track mobile inspection sheet was properly completed. Management Systems 1. Railroad ties have been installed on the outside of tracks parallel to the tracks to prevent the. skidder from digging holes and covering the tracks with rock. 2. The railroad ties on the sides of the tracks were frosty and wet. 3. The tires on the skidder were worn. 4. The plant has been using a wood skidder to move railcars for 20+ years instead of a track mobile, which is made to move railcars. 5. The operators experience traction problems every morning 6. The operators state that the skidder still has some traction problems when new tires are installed. Conclusion VCM railcars were being switched using the skidder when traction problems developed. The skidder slid in between the tracks at the derailer. The tire of die skidder grabbed the derailer flipping it up. The front trucks of the first railcar were pulled over the derailer resulting in the derailment of the front set of trucks of an empty VCM railcar. The cause of this incident is that a wood skidder is being used to move railcars, which is not its intended use. 2 NOC 13617