USE, OPERATIONS & SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Using the Precision Cut Brake Stick Safely

When using the light-weight Brake Stick by Precision Cut, Trainmen are safer and more efficient in performing the tasks required during their switching operations. The light-weight brake stick requires much less effort, resulting in less fatigue and injury. It is helpful in reducing injuries due to falls, especially in foul weather conditions. Climbing on/off the cars is eliminated, resulting in zero injuries related to mounting or dismounting equipment to apply or release handbrakes.

Precision Cut Safe Operational Techniques

Precision Cut advises brake stick users against exerting unnecessary force. Brake stick users are advised to use a whole-body movement in applying effort when using a brake stick. When this safe technique is used, the user does not need to rely on the momentum of the heavier metal brake sticks to provide additional torque on the brake wheel. Rather, from a physics perspective, the brake stick is merely a rigid component of the system, with the input forces exerted solely by the user and under the control of the user. The brake stick should be long enough to accommodate safe biomechanics during hand brake operation. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and use a two-handed grip (in an under-over handed orientation) on the brake stick, without reaching overhead.

The brake stick should also be long enough to avoid the Red Zone when possible.

A proper length stick allows safer biomechanics. In the instance pictured below; to apply handbrakes, insert the head of the stick into the handbrake wheel at the 5 O’Clock position (Figure 1), or the 1 O’Clock position (Figure3) to start the clockwise rotation. To release the handbrakes, insert the head of the stick into the handbrake wheel at the 11 O’Clock position (Figure 2), or the 7 O’Clock (Figure 4) to start the counter-clockwise rotation, or use the brake stick head to activate the handbrake release lever (not shown in photos).