Brakemen (Railroad industry)

The air in rail yards contains diesel exhaust from idling locomotives, silica particles from crushed ballast, and chemical vapors from solvents used on equipment. Brakemen breathe these substances during every shift while working between railcars and around yard machinery. Older rolling stock releases asbestos fibers from brake components and insulation materials that workers handle during coupling operations. Passing trains and switching equipment can permanently damage your hearing over time.

There are several dangers that brakemen face every day, including:

• Coupling and uncoupling operations, where railcars can crush limbs or cause impact injuries
• Walking on uneven ballast and equipment surfaces during switching tasks
• Positioning between moving cars while spotting and signaling movements
• Lifting and handling heavy equipment that strains backs, shoulders, and knees
• Working in rail yards where visibility is limited and multiple trains move simultaneously
• Providing flag protection while standing near active tracks

A CDC study shows that train operators accounted for a significant proportion of U.S. rail transportation industry workplace deaths between 1992 and 1998. Workers performing brakemen duties were exposed to measurable and persistent hazards due to caught-between incidents involving moving equipment. Systemic failures to protect employees contributed to these fatal injuries despite established safety protocols.

In some cases, failures of the coupling equipment trap workers between railcars, causing them to get crushed and to sustain tissue damage. Slips and falls on slippery walkways or deteriorated platforms can result in traumatic brain injuries, back fractures, and fractured bones. Handling weighted materials throughout shifts can lead to chronic pain and structural damage in the spinal column, rotator cuffs, and leg joints.

Relevant job titles

• Road brakeman
• Assistant conductor
• Trainman
• Switchman