Prepare
Understand the work, equipment, location, protection, weather, operating conditions, and potential hazards before work begins.
Railroad Safety
Safety starts before the movement.
Prepared employees, disciplined operations, clear communication, responsible access, and public awareness help protect the people, customers, and communities along B&H Rail.
Employees & Third Parties
Training & Readiness
Clear expectations for people working on, entering, or interacting with railroad property.
Training & Access ↓
Tracks & Crossings
Public Safety
Safe decisions around crossings, tracks, railroad property, and train movements.
Public Safety ↓
Immediate Guidance
Crossing Emergency
Know what to do if a vehicle becomes stuck or stalled on railroad tracks.
Emergency Steps ↓
Policies & Education
Safety Resources
Visitor policy, Operation Lifesaver, FAQs, company commitments, and direct support.
View Resources ↓
A Shared Responsibility
Safe railroad operations depend on everyone involved.
Railroad safety extends beyond train crews. Mechanical, track, signal, customer, contractor, visitor, and public interactions all affect how safely work is performed around an active railroad.
B&H's approach begins with preparation: understand the task, location, equipment, protection, responsibilities, and changing conditions before work or movement begins.
Do not make assumptions around active railroad property. If access,
protection, movement authority, or another condition is unclear,
coordinate with B&H before proceeding.
Our Safety Culture
Safety is part of every department and every decision.
B&H's safety program combines preparation, communication, operating discipline, and continuous improvement across the railroad.
Communicate
Make movements, protection, responsibilities, changing conditions, and expectations clear to the people involved.
Protect
Use the required authority, procedures, personal protective equipment, job briefings, and safeguards for the work being performed.
Improve
Report concerns, communicate lessons learned, and strengthen training, procedures, and preparedness when opportunities are identified.
Safety, Security & Environmental Committee
B&H maintains an active committee representing its operating disciplines. The committee meets with management quarterly to discuss concerns, identify resolutions, and support continuous improvement.
Training & Access
Different roles require different preparation.
Employees, contractors, vendors, customers, and visitors interact with the railroad in different ways. Access and safety expectations should match the work, location, and exposure involved.
Employees
Railroad work requires role-specific knowledge, operating discipline, recurring instruction, and an understanding of the hazards associated with the task and environment.
- Job briefings and role-specific procedures
- Required PPE and safeguards
- Clear communication and operating discipline
Contractors & Vendors
Third parties should coordinate planned work with B&H before entering railroad property or beginning work on, across, or near active railroad infrastructure.
- Advance authorization and coordination
- Required protection and access planning
- Project-specific railroad requirements
Visitors & Customers
Railroad property is private property. Visitors require authorization and should understand B&H's escort, access, photography, and property requirements before arriving.
- Advance permission
- Escort and access requirements
- Stay clear of active tracks and equipment
Safety Around Tracks & Trains
Always expect a train.
Freight trains can operate at any time. Cross tracks only at designated public crossings, obey the warning system, and stay off railroad property unless you have authorization.
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Cross only at designated crossings.
Obey signs, gates, flashing lights, and bells. Never drive around a lowered crossing gate.
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Make sure the entire vehicle can clear the tracks.
Never enter a crossing if traffic, road conditions, or the vehicle ahead could leave you stopped on the railroad tracks.
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Watch for another train.
At multiple-track crossings, another train can approach from either direction after the first train passes.
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Stay off railroad property.
Tracks, yards, bridges, and railroad equipment are not public walking paths, recreation areas, or photography locations.
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Never rely on a train schedule.
Freight train movements can occur at different times, on different tracks, and in either direction.
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Use the crossing information provided on site.
The blue-and-white Emergency Notification System sign identifies the crossing and provides the railroad emergency number.
Crossing Emergency
A vehicle is stuck on the tracks. What should you do?
Do not stay in the vehicle trying to solve the problem. Evacuate everyone immediately—even if no train is visible—and move away from the railroad tracks.
01
Get everyone out.
Leave the vehicle immediately. Do not delay evacuation while repeatedly attempting to restart or move it.
02
Move away from the tracks.
Get everyone well away from the crossing and remain alert for train movement on any track and from either direction.
03
Find the blue-and-white ENS sign.
Call the railroad number shown on the sign and provide the crossing identification number so the location can be identified quickly.
04
Call 911 when needed.
Call 911 for immediate danger, injury, fire, or when the railroad emergency information cannot be located.
For a life-threatening emergency or injury, call 911. When reporting
any railroad incident, provide the most specific location information
available, including the crossing ID from the ENS sign when possible.
Community Rail Safety
Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver provides rail-safety education for motorists, pedestrians, schools, professional drivers, law enforcement, first responders, and community groups.
Rail Safety Before an Emergency
Bring rail-safety education into the community.
Schools, driver programs, professional drivers, emergency responders, and community organizations can use Operation Lifesaver materials and presentations to improve awareness around railroad crossings, tracks, and Emergency Notification System signs.
Safety Resources
Find the policy, guidance, or contact you need.
Use these resources for visitor access, public rail-safety education, common questions, company commitments, and non-emergency coordination with B&H.
B&H Policy
Visitor & Photography Policy
Review authorization, escort, property-access, and photography expectations before visiting B&H property.
→ Public EducationOperation Lifesaver
Safety information for motorists, pedestrians, professional drivers, students, law enforcement, and emergency responders.
↗ QuestionsB&H Frequently Asked Questions
Find practical answers about railroad property, freight, railcars, tariffs, transload, and other common questions.
→ CompanyB&H Commitments
Learn how safe operations, responsible stewardship, and community coordination fit into B&H's broader responsibilities.
→ Direct SupportAsk a Safety Question
Contact B&H regarding a non-emergency safety concern, visitor question, planned access, or community-education need.
→Speak Up for Safety
See a concern or need help planning work near the railroad?
Contact B&H before entering railroad property, beginning third-party work, coordinating community safety education, or addressing a non-emergency safety concern.