Federal regulators demand MBTA to make changes to ensure worker safety

MASS — Federal regulators have told new MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng that unsafe conditions are putting workers’ lives in danger.

Although the MBTA has been under the watch of the Federal Transit Authority for months, the FTA is now furthering the pressure on the T after a rash of close calls involving workplace safety.

According to a letter sent to Eng, between March 13 and 24, the MBTA experienced three near misses involving trains and workers. The letter also says that despite an effort to reinforce safety rules, a fourth near miss occurred on April 7 and another on April 13 when an employee was seriously injured while working in a right-of-way location. The next day, the MBTA experienced its fifth right-of-way near miss in just over a month.

Because of the rash of incidents, the FTA alleges that the MBTA uses unsafe practices that risk injuries or the lives of employees.

“We are reviewing the FTA directive and ensuring that our processes and procedures allow us to operate safely,” said Eng Wednesday. “I intend to be out in the right of way to personally see what we need to do and what we can do to continuously improve.”

Starting Thursday, the FTA will prohibit right-of-way access until the MBTA can provide documentation guaranteeing the safety of work crews.

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