FRA extends deadlines for railroads to submit safety training programs

Washington – The Federal Railroad Administration has delayed by one year the dates for railroads to comply with training requirements in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, according to a notice published in the May 3 Federal Register.

“Model training program developers alerted FRA they will not be able to timely produce model programs that an estimated 1,459 railroads and contractors are expected to use to comply with the rule’s program submission requirements,” the notice states.

The rule requires any railroad or railroad contractor employing one or more safety-related employees to create and submit to FRA a training program that establishes minimum training qualifications for all employee categories. Most employers also are required to perform periodic employee oversight and create annual written reviews of training programs.

According to FRA:

• Training organizations and learning institutions that have provided training to safety-related employees before Jan. 1, 2018, may continue without FRA approval until Jan. 1, 2019.
• Training organizations and learning institutions need approval no later than Jan. 1, 2019, to continue; extensions may be granted with sufficient facts.
• Model programs submitted to FRA before May 1, 2018, are considered approved and may be implemented 180 days after the date of submission unless FRA notifies the organization that developed and submitted the program that the program contains deficiencies.

The rule is scheduled to go into effect June 2. Petitions to reconsider the extension are due May 23.