SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1886        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1987

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to first aid kits and fire extinguishers on trains..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. All freight locomotives occupied or unoccupied operating in the State of Massachusetts, will require a portable fire extinguisher and, if so, the proper type and size of the fire extinguisher for each locomotive. Each freight locomotive is required to have a minimum of one portable fire extinguisher. If the analysis performed indicates that one or more additional portable fire extinguishers are needed, such shall be installed.  Each railroad shall develop and adopt written procedures for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of all fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers on all freight locomotives it operates. The railroad shall comply with those procedures that it designates as mandatory for the safety of the fire equipment and its occupants.The freight railroad company shall be responsible for giving every crew member the basic class on fire prevention in how to put out fires with a fire extinguisher. These fire extinguishers will be mounted in a readily location in the engine room or cab of the locomotives.

SECTION 2:  All freight locomotives occupied or unoccupied operating in the State of Massachusetts, will require a first-aid kit. This first-aid kit shall be equipped with the necessary emergency medical equipment and supplies.Said kit shall include a minimum supplies of: (A) 1 roll of 1-inch wide gauze bandage -- minimum of 10 yards.(B) 1 roll of 1-inch wide adhesive tape -- minimum of 5 yards.(C) 1 package of absorbent gauze compress, at least 3-inches by 3-inches -- minimum of 6 in number.(D) At least 12 -- 1-inch individual sanitary band aids.(E) A bottle of iodine or mercurochrome or tincture of methyolate, or an equivalent antiseptic, minimum of 1 ounce bottle.(F) Minimum of 2 ounce bottle of smelling salts or six ampoules of spirits of ammonia.(G) Minimum of 3 ounce bottle of a standard eye wash preparation, with necessary eye wash glass.(H) Jar or tube of white petroleum jelly or unguentine for burns.(I) One pair of scissors(J) One set of tweezers.(K) Two pair of latex gloves and(L) One resuscitation mask.The freight railroad company shall be responsible for giving every crew member the basic class on first aid and to maintain the upkeep of the first-aid kits. These first-aid kits will be mounted in a readily location inside the cab of the locomotives.