New Federal Rules Will Increase Safety for Rail Workers

The Federal Railroad Administration issued two new rules on May 20 that require certain railroads to develop certification and training programs for train dispatchers and signal employees. Developed with input from the IBEW, these rules will ensure a safer railroad system for workers, customers and the communities that railroads travel through, Railroad Department Director Al Russo said.


https://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/24Daily/2406/240604_FederalRules

June 4, 2024

"The rules, announced May 20, will require freight railroads, Amtrak and commuter rail lines to develop certification and training programs for train dispatchers and signal employees.

“With these certifications, our members will now be provided the proper training and necessary skills to perform their work without utilizing other means of education, such as going to YouTube to expand their knowledge because of the lack of training that has been the case for years,” Railroad Department Director Al Russo said. “With these mandates, we can have a safer railroad system for our workers, customers and the community.”

After the rules take effect, scheduled for July, railroads will have to submit certification programs for FRA approval that will evaluate the knowledge, skills and prior safety records of dispatchers, who allocate and assign track use and route trains, and signal employees, who install, repair and maintain signal systems that direct train movements, as well as locomotive and telecom workers who provide service and maintenance for positive train control and other signal systems. PTC is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position.

FULL story at link above.