Under what condition is an employee allowed to use a cell phone on duty?

Using a cell phone on duty is typically regulated to maintain safety and operational efficiency in a railway environment. The correct condition for an employee to use a cell phone on duty often occurs when the train's communication system fails. In such critical situations, maintaining communication is essential for assessing safety, addressing emergencies, or coordinating with other personnel. An employee using their phone under these circumstances is taking proactive measures to ensure safety and resolve issues that might arise from a communication breakdown.

The alternative options present conditions that may not align with typical best practices for safety on duty. For instance, receiving authorization from passengers to use a cell phone blurs the line of responsibility and could lead to distractions. Scheduled breaks are designated times when employees may be permitted to use personal devices, but they must be off duty during these periods. Finally, using a phone while walking the train could result in distractions, impairing the ability to monitor the environment effectively and potentially compromising safety.