Safety

Adopted October 2014

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) upholds safety as a fundamental value. Our company’s most valuable assets are its people. Without exception, keeping each other safe is the responsibility of each employee at every level.

The Alaska Railroad seeks an accident-free, incident-free work environment in all areas of its operations. We work diligently to continually improve on-the-job safety through: communications, training, awareness and auditing.

Safety relies on participation. Individuals and work groups must be willing to sacrifice productivity in favor of working safely. Employees are expected to act immediately to eliminate unsafe conditions and to prevent the risk of injury in the workplace. To succeed, all employees must:

  • Comply with all relevant federal, state and local rules and regulations.
  • Observe all company rules and regulations related to safe work performance.
  • Integrate safety into each job function.
  • Report or correct unsafe equipment/practices.
  • Report any and all accidents that occur while on the job, as soon as is practical.
  • Foster mutual respect and cooperation between co-workers

See Tracks. Think Train.

Every day, people are injured, killed or involved in a “near miss” while in the right of way zone on the railroad tracks. Operation Lifesaver is committed to educating the public about safety along the railroad. Use this information to help stay safe when around Alaska Railroad tracks:

STAY SAFE.

  •     Use caution in the right of way. The right of way extends 100 feet from the center of the tracks in either direction.
  •     Stay off the tracks. Walking or lingering on the tracks is illegal trespassing and can result in fines, jail time or worse – injury or death.
  •     Don’t travel along the tracks to access hunting, fishing, camping or other recreational spots. To cross the tracks, looks both ways and quickly cross, then immediately exit the right of way. 
  •     Remember, trains are surprisingly quiet. Especially in among the elements, (wind, rain, etc) a train can sneak up on you without warning.
  •     Remember, trains cannot stop quickly. Even at extremely low speeds, locomotives and the cars they pull can take more than a quarter of a mile to come to a full stop.
  •     Right of way restrictions apply to photography. Please photograph from a safe distance, well clear of the tracks.

Operation Lifesaver

Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit, international public education program with a mission to end collisions, deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and right-of-ways. 

The programs are sponsored cooperatively by federal, state and local government agencies, highway safety organizations and the nation’s railroads. The Alaska Railroad Corporation sponsors all activities associated with the Operation Lifesaver Alaska (OL-AK) chapter.

Attention Photographers! No Photo is worth the risk. Photo and video shoots on or near railroad tracks are illegal and dangerous. Help stop track tragedies. Don't encourage any activity on the tracks with photographs that make it seem okay. 

Problem vegetation along railroad tracks interferes with the safe functioning of train operations and poses risks to the public, ARRC employees and the environment from potential hazards associated with railway operations. From 1983 to 2010, the Alaska Railroad tried to control problem vegetation along its tracks solely with non-chemical methods including mechanical brush-cutting, manual labor, steam and burning. Despite these efforts, the volume and location of vegetation along the track resulted in stiff fines from the Federal Railroad Administration, the railroad's federal regulatory agency. An integrated vegetation management program adds herbicide control where manual and mechanical methods are inadequate. This approach greatly enhances the Alaska Railroad's ability to improve safety and comply with federal regulatory requirements.

From 2010 through 2012, ARRC applied herbicides to some portions of its tracks under permits issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). In early 2013, ADEC issued new regulations setting up a “permit by rule” system that requires agencies that apply herbicide on their lands to establish an Integrated Pest Management Plan and to take other steps to notify the public and ADEC of planned herbicide applications. 

Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (IVMP)

ARRC has developed an Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (IVMP) that meets the requirements of these new regulations. A copy of the current ARRC IVMP is available:

Notices in Newspapers

  • 2024 Herbicide Use Notice - Published mid-April 2024 in general circulation newspapers along the railbelt: Peninsula Clarion, Anchorage Daily News, Frontiersman, and Fairbanks Daily News Miner.

Report on Last Season

During 2023, the Alaska Railroad applied herbicides along the main and branch lines during one session starting the June 5 and finishing on June 27. Herbicides were applied first to the Seward Yard, then extended north along the rail line to Whittier, Anchorage, Healy, Fairbanks and the Salcha Bridge area. Detailed information about the herbicides used, the locations where applied and the timing of application is included in this report:

 

Vegetation Management Purpose and Need

Potentially dangerous vegetation growth eventually led to an ultimatum from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the regulatory body which governs safety for the rail industry. In 2009, the FRA notified ARRC that more must be done to maintain safe operating conditions, or ARRC could face curtailed or ceased train operations.

Between 1997 and 2008, the FRA issued a total of 947 defects and 74 violations against the ARRC for vegetation safety concerns. During summer 2009 alone, FRA inspectors issued an additional 497 defects and 123 violations. Despite ARRC efforts to manage vegetation with non-chemical methods, the FRA noted the “ARRC track continues to get worse.” While the FRA acknowledged ARRC’s continued efforts to seek a state herbicide use permit, the agency indicated it would no longer ignore the safety concerns presented by the overwhelming overgrowth of vegetation. A copy of the letter can be found on the PDF below:

 

Important Considerations

  • Safety of the public and employees and safe movement of trains are the dominant factors in designing a comprehensive vegetation management program.
  • Any herbicides used are regulated and approved by both federal and state environmental agencies.  
  • Application of herbicides is conducted by licensed, experienced contractors and Alaska Railroad employees, and railroad employees and the public will be informed about chemicals used and Alaska Railroad property to be treated, as required by ADEC regulations.
  • The herbicide products used have been used for many years, are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and have been shown to have no adverse effects on humans, fish or wildlife.

 

Benefits of Comprehensive Weed Control

  • Reduces the risk of derailment
  • Helps employees to avoid slip, trip and fall injuries
  • Eliminates plants and roots that destabilize the track sub-surface 
  • Removes brush that can fuel wild fires
  • Maintains safe visual sight lines at road/rail crossings
  • Assists efforts to control the spread of noxious, invasive weeds 
  • Complies with federal regulatory requirements to control vegetation on the rail bed

 

Vegetation Management Facts and FAQs

Alaska Railroad Vegetation Management Overview (2016 update)
This document provides an overview of the Alaska Railroad's vegetation management efforts and program.

Alaska Railroad Integrated Vegetation Management Plan FAQs (2021 update)
This document includes the most current information and answers to questions about the Alaska Railroad Corporation's vegetation management plan.

Alternative Methods for Vegetation Control at the ARRC: Evaluation & Implementation
This document provides the history and information about the Alaska Railroad Corporation's use of alternative methods to control weeds.

 

Vegetation Management Display Boards

All Updated as of April 2016 and still current as of 2023

 

Herbicide and Additive Facts and FAQs

Glyphosate-Frequently Asked Questions
This document outlines the facts about the glyphosate, the base herbicide in Alligare Glyphosate 4 Plus. It was prepared for the Alaska Railroad Corporation by the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health.

Glyphosate Environmental Protection Agency RED Fact Sheet
This links to the Environmental Protection Agency RED fact sheet on Glyphosate.

Alligare MSM 60 Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Alligare MSM 60 SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Alligare Triclopyr 3 Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Alligare Triclopyr 3 SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Bayer Oust Extra Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Bayer Oust Extra SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Bayer Oust XP Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Bayer Oust XP SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Corteva Milestone Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Corteva Milestone SDS  — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

FMC Altify Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

FMC Altify SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Novita MSO Label — methylated seed oil surfactant product label published by the manufacturer.

Novita MSO SDS  — methylated seed oil surfactant Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Novita Foam No More Label — foam suppressant additive product label published by the manufacturer. 

Novita Foam No More SDS — foam suppressant additive Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Novita Drift Control Label — drift retardant additive product label published by the manufacturer.

Novita Drift Control SDS — drift retardant  Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Ranger Pro Herbicide Label — herbicide product label published by the manufacturer.

Ranger Pro Herbicide SDS — herbicide Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

 

External Resources

Third-party information from public and private universities, professional weed management organizations, state and federal government agencies are easily found on the Internet. Some of the most complete informational sites include:

University of Iowa Department of Weed Sciences

U.S. Forest Service

State of California Pesticide Management Agency

Cornell University Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology

University of California-Davis (UC Davis) Weed Research and Information Center

Weed Science Society of America

 

Vegetation Management & Herbicide Research and Studies

Recent Weed Control Research Project

The Alaska Railroad Corporation worked with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) to conduct a herbicide research project, similar to those accomplished for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (ADOT/PF). Two field studies were conducted for DOT/PF along highway rights-of-way in two different climatic zones (Delta Junction and Valdez). The Alaska Railroad project was designed to compliment these previous tests as well as provide specific information to the Alaska Railroad.

Previous Herbicide and Alternative Methods Research

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) has spent considerable time and resources to aggressively evaluate alternative methods for vegetation control in the ballast and tie area, particularly throughout the 1990s.

From 1988 through 1990, the Alaska Railroad commissioned the University of Alaska Fairbanks to investigate herbicide persistence and migration, as well as alternative methods of vegetation control. The results were published in a report in early 1991:

1991 UAF Alaska Railroad Integrated Vegetation Management Research Project (Report)

1991 UAF Alaska Railroad Integrated Vegetation Management Reserach Project (Appendices)

Following this university research, the railroad conducted testing of numerous non-chemical alternatives for vegetation management. This included testing of a steam machine in 1993, hosting a vegetation management symposium in 1994 to evaluate multiple alternatives, and testing three contractor-proposed methods/prototypes in 1998. The results of these efforts were analyzed and critiqued and compiled into a report in 1998:

Controlling Unwanted Vegetation That Impacts Railroad Infrastructure: A Critique of the Trials of Five Potential Solutions and Review of Seven Other Potential Strategies

A summary of the Alaska Railroad's efforts to investigate, test and evaluate alternative non-chemical means of controlling weeds is recapped in this fact sheet:

Alternative Methods for Vegetation Control at ARRC: Evaluation and Implementation
(2015 update)

Current Non-Chemical Control Methods

Mechanical Brush-Cutter

On-track brush-cutters are used to mow vegetation in the area beyond the rails and ties. The brush-cutter blade can reach no closer than 2 to 4 feet and no further than 20-30 feet from the end of the ties.

Ballast Regulator

Ballast regulator equipment (the railroad equivalent to a highway motorized grader) is equipped with a large rotating broom that evenly distributes ballast (the rock bed) along the tracks. To address vegetation, the broom is modified by peeling back the ubber on the bristles. The rotating wires essentially scrape the plant tops from the track surface.

Manual Labor

Manual labor crews use chainsaws, weed whakers, pruners, mowers and other tools, as well as some hand-pulling, to trim vegetation in areas where it is not feasible to use on-track heavy equipment. Manual brush-cutting and other vegetation control has always been a bigger job than railroad workforces can handle. To assist, the railroad has contracted with the Department of Correctiosn to use inmate labor. The use of inmate crews is subject to ARRC labor agreements. Inmate crews have been used every year from the early 1990s through 2009, when ARRC was not able to gain labor union consent. Manual control continues with ARRC personnel.

Shortcomings of current methods

Current non-chemical methods of vegetation control are slow, expensive and not effective long-term. Manual and mechanical methods can eliminate the upper portion of vegetation, but do not address the root systems. Therefore, plants grow back – sometimes hardier than before – presenting a repeating problem. 

Tested Alternatives

The Alaska Railroad has investigated numerous alterative methods for vegetation management. They include:

  • Steam

In 1993, ARRC borrowed a prototype "Steam Machine" from Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail to evaluate its effectiveness as a weed control method. Configured as a train – including a control car, steam / boiler car, fuel tanker, water tanker and locomotive – the Steam Machine moved along the rail at about one mile per hour. Boxes folded down over the track shoulders to enclose the area between the rails. Steam released into this confined area heated the vegetation, and weeds above the ground were wilted. Because roots remained, additional passes were required every two weeks in order to knock down re-growth

The Steam Machine covered about 114 miles (Anchorage to Seward) in 13 work days during July. Cost was about $115,000 (1993 dollars). While steam showed potential as a vegetation control method, it had costly drawbacks, including high fuel consumption, high water consumption, large operating crew (about six), and repeated applications. In 1998, the CP mothballed the Steam Machine due to poor performance. 

  • Hot Water

In 1998, one of three contractors mobilized the AquaHeat hot water machine to be evaluated by the Alaska Railroad during a two-week testing phase.

The truck-mounted equipment poured scalding water on the tracks to kill vegetation. While the immediate effect was to "cook" the tops of vegetation, the roots remained unaffected.

  • Flaming

The second of three contractors evaluated in 1998 had mobilized a fire / flaming machine to be evaluated by the Alaska Railroad during a two-week testing phase.

The truck-drawn equipment shot flames out of the back and onto the track. While the immediate effect was to burn and singe the tops of vegetation, again, root systems remained unaffected. 

  • Radiant Heat

The third and most successful contractor to be evaluated in 1998 had demonstrated a prototype Radiant Heat machine. After substantial development costs and delays, a prototype machine was placed in service.

The prototype included a large truck equipped with special drop down axles to remain on the tracks. Articulating arms held three radiant heaters. The truck carried a large supply of propane and required a three-person crew. This machine was used for two seasons, but was retired because of low productivity and high operating costs.

Railroad Police – The special agents assigned to the ARRC police department are State of Alaska Law Enforcement Officers charged with the protection of the general public, employees, customers and corporate assets. Questions regarding trespassing, vandalism, criminal activity or suspicious behavior can be directed to 1.877.RAILCOP or 907.265.2463.

Track Watch

TrackWatch is a public awareness and education campaign which encourages passengers, employees and neighborhood residents to report any suspicious activity around the tracks and property of the Alaska Railroad. The program is patterned after the successful "Neighborhood Watch" program initiated in communities across the country.

Through the TrackWatch program we are asking our Alaskan neighbors, customers, employees and passengers to be on the lookout for activities or situations that could pose a danger to railroad operations and report them to us.

For more information on TrackWatch, click here.

At the Alaska railroad, “Working Together Safely” is not just a motto, it’s what we do. Our employees, customers and business partners combine efforts to deliver services in the safest manner possible.