Railroad
Director: Al Russo
202 728-6018
railroad@ibew.org
PRESS RELEASE:
New FRA rule requires safety certifications for train dispatchers and signal employees
The FRA has finalized rules requiring specific safety training and certification for dispatchers and signal employees, similar to programs currently in place for conductors and engineers, the agency announced Monday.
Until these new rules, dispatchers and signal employees will have to receive specific training, safety checks, and verification of safety records.
“Railroaders and the communities through which trains run need to know that they have competent, qualified teams managing railroad operations, and the final rules announced today will help guarantee that those working on or living near the tracks have their safety in good hands," DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
The details: Railroads must now create certification programs and submit them to FRA for approval. Those programs must examine the knowledge and past safety records of dispatchers who assign track use and route trains, and for signal employees, who install and repair signal systems that direct train movements.
The agency said the new efforts will help ensure that dispatchers and signal employees periodically get training on railroad safety and operating rules and practices in addition to new systems and technology.
The Association of American Railroads said it is still reviewing the rules.
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/05/new-fra-rule-requires-safety-certifications-for-train-dispatchers-and-signal-employees-00158865
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About the Railroad Department:
Although jet travel has supplanted railroads as the passenger mode of choice, and the highway system is the principal venue for product transportation, railroads are still alive and well in North America. In the United States, approximately 40% of all freight is shipped by rail, while in Canada, the figure is 71%. IBEW members play a major role in keeping this vital mode of transportation rolling.
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