Class code 7855 — Railroad Operation — Yard

This classification covers railroad yard operations, including the switching and coupling of rail cars as part of freight yard activity. It applies to rail carriers and yard operators who assemble and disassemble trains, move cars between tracks, and prepare freight for transport by rail.

Yard crews work around moving rail cars, operating switches to route them onto different tracks, and physically coupling and uncoupling cars using specialized equipment. This work happens in an active yard environment with multiple tracks, moving equipment, and rail cars that can weigh many tons, often in varying weather and lighting conditions.

The scale and mechanical nature of rail equipment makes this one of the more serious injury-severity environments in transportation, since incidents involving rail cars can be catastrophic even though they may occur less frequently than typical driving accidents. Common concerns include being struck by or caught between rail cars, falls from equipment, and the physical demands of coupling and switching work performed in an unpredictable outdoor environment.