Title: FRA's Current Safety Regulations and Rulemaking Proceedings | US Department of Transportation
Headings: FRA's Current Safety Regulations and Rulemaking Proceedings
FRA's Current Safety Regulations and Rulemaking Proceedings
before the
FRA’s Railroad Safety Program
The National Rail Safety Action Plan
Reducing Train Accidents Caused by Human Factors
Improving Track Safety
Improving Hazardous Materials Safety and Emergency Response Capability
Strengthening FRA’s Safety Compliance Program
Passenger Rail Safety Initiatives
Collision Hazard Analysis
Report to Congress on Push-Pull Operations of Rail Passenger Trains
Passenger Safety Rulemakings
Passenger Safety Research and Development
Conclusion
APPENDIX
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Content: However, FRA has been concerned that several of the leading causes of human factor accidents are not presently covered by any specific Federal rule, and they can have serious consequences. These leading causes include improperly lined track switches, leaving cars in a position that obstructs a track, and shoving rail cars without a person on the front of the move to monitor conditions ahead. In May 2005, FRA asked its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) to develop recommendations for a new human factors rule to address the leading causes of human factor accidents. In February 2006, RSAC reported that good progress on a number of issues had been made; however, it was unable to reach a consensus recommendation. FRA thanked the members of RSAC for the guidance provided and has drafted a notice of proposed rulemaking targeted for publication later this year. As discussed in the RSAC, this regulation will address core railroad operating rules governing the handling of track switches, leaving cars in the clear, and “protecting the point” of shoving movements. Meanwhile, in response to an increasing number of train accidents caused by hand-operated, main track switches in non-signaled territory being left in the wrong position and the potential for catastrophic accidents, FRA took action by issuing Emergency Order No. 24 in October 2005. This emergency order itself followed FRA’s issuance of Safety Advisory 2005-01 in January 2005, immediately after an accident in Graniteville, South Carolina, which resulted in nine deaths from the breach of a tank car containing chlorine.