Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA)

The Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group is a decade-old, voluntary, non-regulatory, workplace-safety partnership. It was formed to look for commonalities among the fatalities that occur during switching operations and to develop findings and recommendations that will prevent railroad employee deaths. Recently the working group has focused on events occurring between 2005 and 2009, during which 55 train and engine service employees died while engaged in rail yard switching operations. Since its inception in 1998, SOFA has shown that many switching fatalities occur due to multiple contributing factors and through rigorous analysis, underlying patterns can be identified to help prevent future casualties.

The current working group is comprised of eleven career railroaders, who together have more than 400 man-years of industry experience. Besides FRA representation, the group includes representatives from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, the United Transportation Union, the Association of American Railroads, and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

In 1999, the working group's initial Findings and Recommendations identified the 5 LIFESAVERS, which have been widely adopted by the railroad industry. They are:

Data from the recently published (March 2011) report indicates that there has been a 60% reduction in Lifesaver 1 fatalities, a 70% decline in Lifesaver 2 caused deaths, and more than an 80% decrease in fatalities related to Lifesaver 4. The working group also addresses in its report three new "Special Switching Hazards:"

 Administrator Szabo's Press Release