PART 243—TRAINING, QUALIFICATION, AND OVERSIGHT FOR SAFETY-RELATED RAILROAD EMPLOYEES

Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation › Chapter II—Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation

Subpart A—General

§ 243.1 Purpose and scope.

(a) The purpose of this part is to ensure that any person employed by a railroad or a contractor of a railroad as a safety-related railroad employee is trained and qualified to comply with any relevant Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders.

(b) This part contains the general minimum training and qualification requirements for each category and subcategory of safety-related railroad employee, regardless of whether the employee is employed by a railroad or a contractor of a railroad. Contractors shall coordinate with railroads and comply with the contents of this part, including those aspects of training that are specific to the contracting railroad's rules and procedures.

(c) The requirements in this part do not exempt any other requirement in this chapter.

(d) Unless otherwise noted, this part augments other training and qualification requirements contained in this chapter.

(e) The requirements in this part do not address hazardous materials training of “hazmat employees” as defined in 49 CFR 171.8 as such training is required pursuant to 49 CFR part 172, subpart H.

(f) The requirements in this part do not require an employer to adopt and comply with a training program when the training required for a qualified person is obtained through earning a college degree or certification from an accredited training organization or learning institution. For example, the requirements in this part do not require the training program of an engineering firm that conducts bridge inspections to include training of railroad bridge engineers on the subjects taught as part of a professional engineering curriculum covered by 49 CFR 237.51(b).

(g) The requirements in this part do not require an employer to train contractors who are hired to perform elective audits or assessments that are not required by Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, or orders.

§ 243.3 Application and responsibility for compliance.

(a) This part applies to all railroads, contractors of railroads, and training organizations or learning institutions that train safety-related railroad employees except:

(1) Railroads or contractors of railroads that operate only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation (i.e., plant railroads, as defined in § 243.5);

(2) Tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations that are not part of the general railroad system of transportation as defined in § 243.5; or

(3) Rapid transit operations in an urban area that are not connected to the general railroad system of transportation.

(b) Although the duties imposed by this part are generally stated in terms of the duty of a railroad, each person, including a contractor for a railroad, who performs any duty covered by this part, shall perform that duty in accordance with this part.

(c)(1) A parent or holding company may comply with the requirements of this part on behalf of one or more subsidiaries if the arrangement is specified and submitted with the relevant training program(s) under subpart B of this part.

(i) The arrangement may be used to fulfill all or a portion of a subsidiary's responsibility for compliance with this part.

(ii) A parent or holding company that submits a training program on behalf of one or more subsidiaries must initially and continually maintain in its submission a list of the legal name of each subsidiary. The submission must reflect which courses each subsidiary is adopting if a subsidiary is not adopting the parent or holding company's training program in its entirety. The submission must reflect whether each subsidiary is adopting all of a parent or holding company's training programs or identify which courses each subsidiary is adopting.

(2) A subsidiary must not duplicate a training program submission a parent or holding company has made on its behalf.

(3) A subsidiary must file a training program submission, in accordance with the requirements of subpart B of this part, if a parent or holding company does not submit one or more training programs on behalf of the subsidiary that is intended to fulfill all of the subsidiary's responsibilities under this part.

(4) A subsidiary must comply with a parent or holding company's training program submission that is filed on behalf of the parent or holding company's subsidiaries unless the subsidiary files its own submission, in accordance with the requirements of subpart B of this part.

§ 243.5 Definitions.

As used in this part—

Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration or the Administrator's delegate.

Associate Administrator means the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer of the Federal Railroad Administration or that person's delegate as designated in writing.

Calendar year means the period of time beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.

Contractor means a person under contract with a railroad, including, but not limited to, a prime contractor or a subcontractor.

Designated instructor means a person designated as such by an employer, training organization, or learning institution, who has demonstrated an adequate knowledge of the subject matter under instruction and, where applicable, has the necessary experience to effectively provide formal training on the subject matter. The designated instructor is not required to be an employee of the employer. Employers are required to ensure that employees and non-employees used as designated instructors have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide sound coaching, mentoring, and guidance to new learners.

Employer means a railroad or a contractor of a railroad that employs at least one safety-related railroad employee.

Formal training means training that has a structured and defined curriculum, and which provides an opportunity for training participants to have questions timely answered during the training or at a later date. In the context of this part, formal training may include, but is not limited to, classroom, computer-based, correspondence, on-the-job, simulator, or laboratory training.

Knowledge-based training is a type of formal training that is not task-based and is intended to convey information required for a safety-related railroad employee to comply with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders.

On-the-job training (OJT) means job training that occurs in the workplace, i.e., the employee learns the job while doing the job.

Person means an entity of any type covered under 49 U.S.C. 21301, including, but not limited to, the following: A railroad; a manager, supervisor, official, or other employee or agent of a railroad; any owner, manufacturer, lessor, or lessee of railroad equipment, track, or facilities; any independent contractor providing goods or services to a railroad; and any employee of such owner, manufacturer, lessor, lessee, or independent contractor.

Plant railroad means a plant or installation that owns or leases a locomotive, uses that locomotive to switch cars throughout the plant or installation, and is moving goods solely for use in the facility's own industrial processes. The plant or installation could include track immediately adjacent to the plant or installation if the plant railroad leases the track from the general system railroad and the lease provides for (and actual practice entails) the exclusive use of that trackage by the plant railroad and the general system railroad for purposes of moving only cars shipped to or from the plant. A plant or installation that operates a locomotive to switch or move cars for other entities, even if solely within the confines of the plant or installation, rather than for its own purposes or industrial processes, will not be considered a plant railroad because the performance of such activity makes the operation part of the general railroad system of transportation.

Qualified means that a person has successfully completed all instruction, training, and examination programs required by both the employer and this part, and that the person, therefore, may reasonably be expected to proficiently perform his or her duties in compliance with all Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders.

Refresher training means periodic retraining required for each safety-related railroad employee that is designed to maintain, improve, and update the skills and knowledge of existing employees to ensure they are sufficiently acquainted with any changed standards, or any relevant problematic issues or new skills, methods, and processes, and to ensure no important skills or knowledge have been lost due to lack of use. Similar training programs or plans required elsewhere in this chapter but identified by a term other than refresher training such as “recurrent training,” “re-training,” “periodic training,” “training that occurs periodically,” or “training that is required within defined intervals,” are considered refresher training for purposes of this part although they need not be submitted for review pursuant to § 243.103(b).

Safety-related duty means either a safety-related task or a knowledge-based prohibition that a person meeting the definition of a safety-related railroad employee is required to comply with, when such duty is covered by any Federal railroad safety law, regulation, or order.

Safety-related railroad employee means an individual who is engaged or compensated by an employer to:

(1) Perform work covered under the hours of service laws found at 49 U.S.C. 21101, et seq.;

(2) Perform work as an operating railroad employee who is not subject to the hours of service laws found at 49 U.S.C. 21101, et seq.;

(3) In the application of parts 213 and 214 of this chapter, inspect, install, repair, or maintain track, roadbed, and signal and communication systems, including a roadway worker or railroad bridge worker as defined in § 214.7 of this chapter;

(4) Inspect, repair, or maintain locomotives, passenger cars or freight cars;

(5) Inspect, repair, or maintain other railroad on-track equipment when such equipment is in a service that constitutes a train movement under part 232 of this chapter;

(6) Determine that an on-track roadway maintenance machine or hi-rail vehicle may be used in accordance with part 214, subpart D of this chapter, without repair of a non-complying condition;

(7) Directly instruct, mentor, inspect, or test, as a primary duty, any person while that other person is engaged in a safety-related task; or

(8) Directly supervise the performance of safety-related duties in connection with periodic oversight in accordance with § 243.205.

Safety-related task means a task that a person meeting the definition of a safety-related railroad employee performs, when such task is covered by any Federal railroad safety law, regulation, or order.

Task-based training means a type of formal training with a primary focus on teaching the skills necessary to perform specific tasks that require some degree of neuromuscular coordination.

Tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations that are not part of the general railroad system of transportation means a tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operation conducted only on track used exclusively for that purpose (i.e., there is no freight, intercity passenger, or commuter passenger railroad operation on the track).

Training organizations or learning institutions mean entities that provide training services for people who are safety-related railroad employees or independent students who will rely on the training services provided to qualify to become safety-related railroad employees, but not employees of the entities providing the training. Training organizations and learning institutions include businesses that provide formal training, and colleges and universities that provide rail safety courses, necessary for a person to qualify as a safety-related railroad employee. Training organizations and learning institutions also include entities that do not maintain fixed facilities (i.e., do not have a physical location), as they may rent or lease meeting space to deliver formal training, deliver formal training at an employer's facility, or deliver computer-based training virtually. A railroad that trains its own employees and also trains safety-related railroad employees of other employers is not a training organization or learning institution.

§ 243.7 Penalties and consequences for noncompliance.

(a) A person who violates any requirement of this part, or causes the violation of any such requirement, is subject to a civil penalty of at least the minimum civil monetary penalty and not more than the ordinary maximum civil monetary penalty per violation. However, penalties may be assessed against individuals only for willful violations, and a penalty not to exceed the aggravated maximum civil monetary penalty per violation may be assessed, where:

(1) A grossly negligent violation, or a pattern of repeated violations, has created an imminent hazard of death or injury to persons, or

(2) A death or injury has occurred. See 49 CFR part 209, appendix A. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. See FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/ for a statement of agency civil penalty policy.

(b) A person who violates any requirement of this part or causes the violation of any such requirement may be subject to disqualification from all safety-sensitive service in accordance with part 209 of this chapter.

(c) A person who knowingly and willfully falsifies a record or report required by this part may be subject to criminal penalties under 49 U.S.C. 21311.

Subpart B—Program Components and Approval Process

§ 243.101 Employer program required.

(a) Each employer conducting operations subject to this part shall submit, adopt, and comply with a training program for its safety-related railroad employees.

(b) Each employer that has not yet commenced operations subject to this part shall submit a training program for its safety-related railroad employees before commencing operations. Upon commencing operations, the employer shall adopt and comply with the training program.

(c) In the program required by this part, the employer shall:

(1) Classify its safety-related railroad employees in occupational categories or subcategories by craft, class, task, or other suitable terminology. Other suitable terminology for classifying safety-related railroad employees may include references to the applicable part of the Code of Federal Regulations, section of the United States Code, or citation to an order as described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section;

(2) Define the occupational categories or subcategories of safety-related railroad employees. The definition of each category or subcategory shall include a list of the Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders that the employee is required to comply with, based on the employee's assignments and duties, broken down at a minimum to the applicable part of the Code of Federal Regulations, section of the United States Code, or citation to an order. The listing of the Federal requirements shall contain the descriptive title of each law, regulation, or order. An employer that classifies its safety-related railroad employees by direct reference to the applicable part of the Code of Federal Regulations, section of the United States Code, or citation to an order as permitted in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, is not required to define the occupational categories or subcategories of its safety-related railroad employees;

(3) Create tables or utilize other suitable formats which summarize the information required in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section, separated by major railroad departments (e.g., operations, maintenance-of-way, maintenance-of-equipment, signal and communications). After listing the major departments, the tables or other formats should list the categories and subcategories of safety-related railroad employees within those departments. An employer that does not have major railroad departments and classifies its safety-related railroad employees by direct reference to the applicable part of the Code of Federal Regulations, section of the United States Code, or citation to an order, as permitted in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, is not required to summarize the information required in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section;

(4) Develop procedures to design and develop key learning points for any task-based or knowledge-based training; and

(5) Determine how training shall be structured, developed, and delivered, including an appropriate combination of classroom, simulator, computer-based, correspondence, OJT, or other formal training. The curriculum shall be designed to impart knowledge of, and ability to comply with, applicable Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those applicable Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders. OJT is required when tasks require neuromuscular coordination to learn, unless FRA approves alternative, formal training that addresses the need to practice safety-related tasks, with the ability to objectively measure task completion proficiency.

(d) On-the-job (OJT) training requirements:

(1) When a training program is required to have OJT, the OJT portion of the training program shall consist of the following three key components:

(i) A brief statement describing the tasks and related steps the employee learning the job shall be able to perform;

(ii) A statement of the conditions (prerequisites, tools, equipment, documentation, briefings, demonstrations, and practice) necessary for learning transfer; and

(iii) A statement of the standards by which proficiency is measured through a combination of task/step accuracy, completeness, and repetition.

(2) Prior to beginning the initial safety-related tasks associated with OJT exercises, employers shall make any relevant information or materials, such as operating rules, safety rules, or other rules available to employees involved for referencing.

(3) The tasks and related steps associated with OJT exercises for a particular category or subcategory of employee shall be maintained together in one manual, checklist, or similar document. This reference shall be made available to all employees involved in those OJT exercises.

(e) Contractor's responsibility to validate approved program to a railroad: A contractor is being utilized by a railroad when any of the contractor's employees conduct safety-related duties on behalf of the railroad and the railroad does not otherwise qualify those employees of the contractor that are allowed to perform those duties. A contractor that chooses to train its own safety-related railroad employees shall provide each railroad that utilizes it with a document proving or stating that:

(1) The contractor's training program was approved by FRA; or

(2) The contractor is not required to submit the similar training program or plan as required in § 243.103(b) but is maintaining the similar training program or plan, pursuant to other regulatory requirements contained elsewhere in this chapter.

(f) Railroad's responsibility to retain contractor's validation of program: A railroad that chooses to utilize contractor employees to perform safety-related duties and relies on contractor-provided training as the basis for those employees' qualification to perform those duties shall retain a document from the contractor declaring or proving that the contractor's program was approved by FRA, or that the contractor is not required to submit the similar training program or plan as required in § 243.103(b) but is maintaining the similar training program or plan, pursuant to other regulatory requirements contained elsewhere in this chapter. A copy of the document required in paragraph (e) of this section satisfies this requirement.

§ 243.103 Training components identified in program.

(a) Each employer's program shall include the following components:

(1) A unique name and identifier for each formal initial and refresher training course of study;

(2) A course outline for each course that includes the following:

(i) Any prerequisites to course attendance;

(ii) A brief description of the course, including the terminal learning objectives;

(iii) A brief description of the target audience, e.g., a list of the occupational categories and subcategories of employees the course will be delivered to;

(iv) The method(s) of course delivery, which may include, but are not limited to, classroom, computer-based, on-the-job, simulator, laboratory, correspondence courses, or any combination thereof;

(v) The anticipated course duration for all formal training combined, excluding the course duration of OJT;

(vi) A syllabus of the course to include any applicable U.S.C. chapters, 49 CFR parts, or FRA orders covered in the training; and

(vii) The kind of assessment (written test, performance test, verbal test, OJT standard, etc.) performed to demonstrate employee competency.

(3) A document for each OJT program component that includes the following:

(i) The roles and responsibilities of each category of person involved in the administration and implementation, guidelines for program coordination, and the progression and application of the OJT;

(ii) A listing of the occupational categories and subcategories of employees for which the OJT program applies; and

(iii) Details of the safety-related tasks and subtasks, conditions, and standards covered by the program components.

(4) The job title and telephone number of the employer's primary training point(s) of contact, listed separately by major department or employee occupational category, if applicable.

(5) If any training organization or learning institution developed and will deliver all or any part of the training, the employer must include the following:

(i) A narrative, text table, or other suitable format which describes those portions of the training that fit into this category;

(ii) The business name of the organization that developed and will deliver the training; and

(iii) The job title and telephone number of the training organization or learning institution's primary training point of contact.

(b) An employer that is required to adopt and comply with similar training programs or plans, pursuant to other regulatory requirements contained elsewhere in this chapter, is not required to submit those similar training programs or plans in accordance with this part. When any such similar program or plan, pursuant to other regulatory requirements contained elsewhere in this chapter, includes OJT but does not include the OJT components specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section and in § 243.101(d), the employer shall supplement its program to include the OJT components in accordance with this part. In addition, when any such similar program or plan, pursuant to other regulatory requirements contained elsewhere in this chapter, is amended for any reason, the employer shall amend its program without submission to FRA under § 243.109.

(c) If an employer arranges job-related practice and practice related feedback sessions to supplement classroom, laboratory, simulator training, or OJT, the program shall include a description of the supplemental training.

(d) FRA may require modifications to any programs, including those programs referenced in paragraph (b) of this section, if it determines essential program components, such as OJT, or arranged practice and feedback, are missing or inadequate. Unless requested by FRA, an employer is not required to submit courseware (i.e., lesson plans, instructor guides, participant guides, job aids, practical exercises, tests/assessments, and other materials used in the delivery of any course) as part of a training program submission.

§ 243.105 Optional model program development.

(a) Any organization, business, or association may develop and submit one or more model training programs to FRA for review and approval so that the model program(s) may be used by multiple employers.

(1) Any such model program should be submitted with a unique identifier associated with the program, or FRA will assign a unique identifier.

(2) The program associated with the organization's unique identifier shall include all information required by § 243.103.

(b)(1) An employer that chooses to use a model program approved by FRA is not required to submit the entire program to FRA. Instead, the employer must submit only the unique identifier associated with the program, and all other information that is specific to that employer or deviates from the model program.

(2) An employer that chooses to adopt a model program at FRA's part 243 web portal (https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Part243/) will be prompted for the required information and find each model program developer's contact information if the developer has an FRA-approved training program.

(3) An employer that chooses to adopt and implement a model program must contact the model program developer and obtain the associated course/training materials necessary for training safety-related railroad employees. FRA does not prohibit a model program developer from charging an employer a fee for the right to use a model training program it developed or requiring that each employer obtain its explicit authorization before the employer adopts one of its model programs.

(4) An employer that submits, adopts, and implements an FRA-approved model program, consistent with the operations of that employer, will be considered in compliance with the employer program requirements of § 243.101.

(c)(1) Once a model program is approved by FRA, the developer must consider when it is necessary to make revisions in accordance with § 243.109. A developer that revises its model program is required to provide notice of the FRA-approved changes to its authorized users. A model program developer is required to provide notice of any model program revisions by engaging in any form of communication that positively affirms the developer provided notice to employers likely to be impacted by the changes to the program, including posting the information at the organization's website, writing letters to the employers, and including information in periodic newsletters. Such notice must be at least as effective as the notice the developer provided to employers when it developed the model program. For example, if the developer makes its model program available to anyone with access to the developer's website, then posting a notice of any revisions to the program on its website will be sufficient. In contrast, if a model program developer requires explicit authorization to use its model programs, the developer must provide adequate notice to those entities that it has specifically authorized in a manner consistent with its authorization practices.

(2) Once notified, an employer that is adopting and complying with a model program must:

(i) Adopt and comply with the revisions to the model program made by the developer; or

(ii) Submit information explaining how the employer's training program will deviate from the model program in accordance with § 243.109.

§ 243.107 Training program submission, introductory information required.

(a) An employer who provides training of safety-related railroad employees shall submit its training program to FRA for review and approval. For an employer using FRA's part 243 web portal, the web portal will prompt the employer to provide the required information in this section. Each employer shall state in its submission whether, at the time of filing, it:

(1) Primarily conducts the training program of its own safety-related railroad employees, utilizing its own resources;

(2) Conducts any training for other than its own safety-related railroad employees;

(3) Implements any training programs conducted by some other entity on its behalf but adopted by that employer;

(4) Uses any combination of the practices described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) of this section.

(b) [Reserved]

§ 243.109 Initial and refresher training program submission, review, and approval process.

(a) Initial and refresher programs. (1) Apprenticeship or similar intern programs, that began prior to submission of the employer's initial program filed in accordance with this part, shall be described in the employer's initial program. Any such apprenticeship or similar intern programs may continue, but if the Associate Administrator advises the employer of specific deficiencies, the employer shall resubmit that portion of its program, as revised to address specific deficiencies, within 90 days after the date of any notice of deficiencies from the Associate Administrator. A failure to resubmit the program with the necessary revisions shall be considered a failure to implement a program under this part. The Associate Administrator may extend this 90-day period upon written request.

(2) An employer's initial program, as required by § 243.101(a) or (b), or an employer's refresher program, as required by § 243.201(e), must be submitted to the Associate Administrator and is considered approved and may be implemented immediately upon submission. Following submission, the Associate Administrator will review the program and inform the employer as to whether the program conforms to this part. If the Associate Administrator determines that all or part of the program does not conform, the Associate Administrator will inform the employer of the specific deficiencies. The deficient portions of the non-conforming program may remain in effect until approval of the revised program, unless FRA provides notification otherwise. An employer shall resubmit the portion of its program, as revised to address specific deficiencies, within 90 days after the date of any notice of deficiencies from the Associate Administrator. A failure to resubmit the program with the necessary revisions shall be considered a failure to implement a program under this part. The Associate Administrator may extend this 90-day period upon written request.

(b) Previously approved programs require an informational filing when modified. The employer must review its previously approved training program and modify it accordingly when new safety-related Federal railroad laws, regulations, or orders are issued, or new safety-related technologies, procedures, or equipment are introduced into the workplace and result in new knowledge requirements, safety-related tasks, or modification of existing safety-related duties. An employer that modifies its training program for these described reasons shall submit an informational filing to the Associate Administrator not later than 30 days after the end of the calendar year in which the modification occurred, unless FRA advises otherwise to individual employers, one or more group of employers, or the general public. Programs modified in accordance with this paragraph, after the initial FRA approval, are considered approved upon being modified and may be implemented immediately. Any program deficiencies noted by the Associate Administrator shall be addressed in the same manner as paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The filing shall contain a summary description of sufficient detail that FRA can associate the changes with the employer's previously approved program, and shall include:

(1) Descriptions of all new or refresher training courses developed since the previous FRA approval, using the same criteria required for an initial filing;

(2) Explanations whenever OJT or arranged practice is added to, or discontinued from, a program;

(3) Explanations as to how the methods of delivering training, or qualifying employees has changed; and

(4) A statement from an organization, business, or association that has submitted a model program pursuant to this part, that the organization, business, or association has informed each employer who requested the right to use the affected training program of the changes and the need for the employer to comply with those changes that apply to the employer's operation.

(c) New portions or revisions to an approved program. Substantial additions or revisions to a previously approved program, that are not described as informational filings in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, shall be considered approved and may be implemented immediately upon submission. Following submission, the Associate Administrator will review the new portions or revisions to the previously approved program and inform the employer as to whether the modifications conform to this part. Any program deficiencies noted by the Associate Administrator shall be addressed in the same manner as paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The Associate Administrator will inform the employer as to whether a new portion or revision to an approved program conforms to this part. If the Associate Administrator has determined that the changes do not conform to this part, the employer shall resubmit the portion of its program, as revised to address specific deficiencies, within 90 days after the date of any notice of deficiencies from the Associate Administrator. Failure to resubmit the program with the necessary revisions shall be considered a failure to implement a program under this part. The Associate Administrator may extend this 90-day period upon written request.

(d) Additional submission, resubmission, or informational filing requirement for railroads. (1) Each railroad shall:

(i) Simultaneous with its filing with the FRA, serve a copy of any submission, resubmission, or informational filing required pursuant to this section, to the president of each labor organization that represents the railroad's employees subject to this part; and

(ii) Include in its submission, resubmission, or informational filing required pursuant to this section a statement affirming that the railroad has served a copy to the president of each labor organization that represents the railroad's employees subject to this part, together with a list of the names and addresses of persons served.

(2) Not later than 90 days from the date a railroad files its submission, resubmission, or informational filing required pursuant to this section, a representative designated by the president of each labor organization that represents railroad employees subject to this part, may file a comment on the submission, resubmission, or informational filing:

(i) Each comment shall be submitted to the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; and

(ii) The commenter shall certify that a copy of the comment was served on the railroad.

§ 243.111 Approval of programs filed by training organizations or learning institutions.

(a) A training organization or learning institution that provides training services for safety-related railroad employees, including providing such training services to independent students who enroll with such training organization or learning institution and who will rely on the training services provided to qualify to become safety-related railroad employees, must submit its program to FRA for review and approval unless:

(1) The program is approved as a model program under § 243.105 or an employer program under § 243.101; and

(2) The training organization or learning institution submits an informational filing to its previously approved program containing the information required in paragraph (c) of this section.

(b) A training organization or learning institution that has provided training services to employers covered by this part before January 1, 2019, may continue to offer such training services without FRA approval until January 1, 2020. The Associate Administrator may extend this period at any time based on a written request. Such written requests for an extension of time to submit a program should contain any factors the training organization or learning institution wants the Associate Administrator to consider before approving or disapproving the extension.

(c) A program submitted by a training organization or learning institution must include all information required for an employer's program in accordance with this part, unless the requirement could only apply to an employer's program. The submitted program for a training organization or learning institution must also include the following information:

(1) The full corporate or business name of the training organization or learning institution;

(2) The training organization or learning institution's primary business and email address;

(3) The training organization or learning institution's primary telephone number and point of contact; and

(4) A listing of the training organization or learning institution's designated instructors.

(d) Except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, prior approval by the Associate Administrator is required before FRA will accept such training as sufficient to meet the requirements of this part. The Associate Administrator will advise the training organization or learning institution in writing whether FRA has approved the program. If all or part of the program is not approved by FRA, the Associate Administrator will inform the training organization or learning institution of specific deficiencies. At the time that the Associate Administrator informs of any deficiencies, the Associate Administrator will clarify whether any particular training courses shall be considered approved.

(e) Previously approved programs require an informational filing when modified. The training organization or learning institution shall review its previously approved training program and modify it accordingly when new safety-related Federal railroad laws, regulations, or orders are issued, or new safety-related technologies, procedures, or equipment are introduced into the workplace and result in new knowledge requirements, safety-related tasks, or in modifications of existing safety-related duties. A training organization or learning institution that modifies its training program for these described reasons shall submit an informational filing to the Associate Administrator not later than 30 days after the end of the calendar year in which the modification occurred, unless FRA advises otherwise. Programs modified in accordance with this paragraph are considered approved upon modification and may be implemented immediately. Any program deficiencies noted by the Associate Administrator shall be addressed as specified in this section. A training organization or learning institution may transfer an approved program to another training organization or learning institution, or an employer, and that transfer will require the acquiring entity to file an informational filing unless the acquiring entity is making substantial additions or revisions to the previously approved program, which will require FRA review under paragraph (f) of this section. The filing shall contain a summary description of sufficient detail so that FRA can associate the changes with the training organization's or learning institution's previously approved program, and shall include:

(1) Descriptions of all new or refresher training courses developed after the previous FRA approval, using the same criteria required for an initial filing;

(2) Explanations whenever OJT or arranged practice is added to, or discontinued from, a program; and

(3) Explanations as to how the methods of delivering training, or qualifying employees has changed.

(f) New portions or revisions to an approved program: Substantial additions or revisions to a previously approved program, that are not described as informational filings in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, shall require prior approval by the Associate Administrator before FRA will accept such training as sufficient to meet the requirements of this part. The Associate Administrator will advise the training organization or learning institution in writing whether FRA has approved the new or revised program. If all or part of the program is not approved by FRA, the Associate Administrator will inform the training organization or learning institution of specific deficiencies. At the time that the Associate Administrator informs the training organization or learning institution of any deficiencies, the Associate Administrator will clarify whether any particular new or revised training courses shall be considered approved.

(g) Training organizations and learning institutions subject to this part are required to maintain records for each safety-related railroad employee that attends the training, in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements of this part.

(h) Training organizations and learning institutions subject to this part shall provide a student's training transcript or training record to any employer upon request by the student.

§ 243.113 Electronic and written program submission requirements.

(a) Each employer, training organization, or learning institution to which this part applies is required to file by electronic means at FRA's part 243 web portal any program submissions required under this part in accordance with the requirements of this section. FRA's part 243 web portal will prompt users to submit all required training program information. Each organization, business, or association that develops an optional model program in accordance with § 243.105 is required to file by electronic means at FRA's part 243 web portal the program in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(b) Before any person's first program submission electronically at FRA's part 243 web portal, the person must register for access at the portal, https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Part243/. Users must provide the following information to complete registration:

(1) The name of the employer, organization, learning institution, business, or association;

(2) The names of two individuals, including job titles, who will be the person's points of contact and will be the only individuals allowed access to FRA's secure document submission site;

(3) The mailing addresses for the person's points of contact;

(4) The person's system or main headquarters address located in the United States;

(5) The email addresses for the person's points of contact; and

(6) The daytime telephone numbers for the person's points of contact.

(c) A person that electronically submits an initial program, informational filing, or new portions or revisions to an approved program required by this part at FRA's part 243 web portal shall be considered to have provided its consent for FRA to electronically store any materials required by this part and to receive approval or disapproval notices from FRA by email.

Subpart C—Program Implementation and Oversight Requirements

§ 243.201 Employee qualification requirements.

(a)(1) Each employer must permit only employees appropriately trained and qualified to perform safety-related service.

(2) In addition to any required knowledge-based training, an employer may limit a safety-related railroad employee's training to only the relevant Federal requirements that apply to the safety-related tasks that the employer authorizes the employee to perform.

(3) The requirements in paragraph (a) do not impact the initial designation of the existing safety-related railroad employees who were designated by September 1, 2020 (for each Class I railroad, and each intercity or commuter passenger railroad conducting operations subject to this part with 400,000 total employee work hours annually or more in operation as of January 1, 2020) or January 1, 2022 (for each employer conducting operations subject to this part not covered by the September 1, 2020 implementation date). Each employer conducting operations subject to this part shall either:

(i) Declare the designation of each of its existing safety-related railroad employees by occupational category or subcategory, and only permit designated employees to perform safety-related service in that occupational category or subcategory; or

(ii) For an employer that does not designate employees by occupational category or subcategory, retain a record for each employee identifying the list of Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders that cover the work the employee is designated as qualified to perform.

(b) An employer commencing operations shall declare the designation of each of its existing safety-related railroad employees by occupational category or subcategory before beginning operations, and only permit designated employees to perform safety-related service in that category or subcategory. Any person designated shall have met the requirements for newly hired employees or those assigned new safety-related duties in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Newly hired employees or those assigned new safety-related duty. The following requirements apply to qualifying a safety-related railroad employee who, subsequent to the employer's designation in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, is newly hired or is to engage in a safety-related task not associated with the employee's previous training.

(1) Prior to an employee becoming a qualified member of an occupational category or subcategory, the employer shall require a safety-related railroad employee who is newly hired or is to engage in safety-related duties not associated with the employee's previous training to successfully complete the formal training curriculum for that category or subcategory of safety-related railroad employee. Successful completion of the formal training curriculum includes passing any required examinations covering the skills and knowledge the employee will need to possess in order to perform the safety-related duties necessary to be a member of the occupational category or subcategory.

(2) When the training program is required to include OJT, the employee shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of a designated instructor, OJT proficiency by successfully completing the safety-related tasks necessary to become a qualified member of the occupational category or subcategory. However, as part of the OJT process and before completing any of the formal training, including classroom training and OJT, and passing the field evaluation, a person may perform such tasks under the direct onsite observation of any qualified person, provided the qualified person has been advised of the circumstances and is capable of intervening if an unsafe act or non-compliance with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, or orders is observed. An employee designated to provide formal training to other employees, and who is not a designated instructor, shall be qualified on the safety-related topics or tasks in accordance with the employer's training program and the requirements of this part.

(d) Employees previously trained or qualified, but not by the current employer: If an employee has received relevant training or qualification for a particular occupational category or subcategory through participation in an FRA-required training program completed by an entity other than the employee's current employer, that training shall satisfy the requirements of this part:

(1) Provided that:

(i) A current record of training is obtained from that other entity; or

(ii) When a current record of training is unavailable from that other entity, an employer performs testing to ensure the employee has the knowledge necessary to be a member of that category or subcategory of safety-related railroad employee. Testing shall include an oral or written examination and demonstrating the ability to inspect, identify, and initiate corrective action necessary for compliance with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, or orders, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, or orders. A designated instructor must make the final determination as to whether the employee has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to become a member of an occupational category; and

(2) When the employee, in the previous 180 days, has either not performed the safety-related duties or not received initial or periodic training for an occupational category or subcategory, the employer shall perform testing to ensure the employee has retained the knowledge necessary to remain a member of that occupational category or subcategory. In the situation where an employee's records are unavailable and the employee is subject to testing under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, no additional testing is required.

(e) Refresher training requirements and options:

(1) Each Class I railroad, and each intercity or commuter passenger railroad conducting operations subject to this part with 400,000 total employee work hours annually or more, shall deliver refresher training at an interval not to exceed three calendar years from the date of an employee's last training event, except where refresher training is specifically required more frequently in accordance with this chapter. If the last training event occurs, or occurred, before FRA's approval of the employer's training program, the employer shall provide refresher training either within three calendar years from that prior training event or, for each such employer conducting operations as of January 1, 2022, no later than December 31, 2024.

(2) Each employer conducting operations subject to this part not covered by paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall deliver refresher training at an interval not to exceed three calendar years from the date of an employee's last training event, except where refresher training is specifically required more frequently in accordance with this chapter. If the last training event occurs, or occurred, before FRA's approval of the employer's training program, the employer shall provide refresher training either within three calendar years from that prior training event or, for each such employer conducting operations as of May 1, 2023, no later than December 31, 2026.

(3) Each employer shall ensure that refresher training includes formal training if the employee did not previously receive formal training on the application of any specific Federal railroad safety law, regulation, or order the employee is required to comply with, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those specific Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders.

(4) Each employer shall ensure that refresher training for employees charged with the inspection of track or railroad equipment address identifying defective conditions and how to initiate immediate remedial action to correct critical safety defects that are known to contribute to derailments, accidents, incidents, or injuries.

(5) Each employer shall ensure that refresher training includes safety-related tasks that address skill gaps that the employer identified in the workforce through efficiency testing, periodic oversight, annual reviews, accident/incident data, FRA inspection data, or other performance measuring metrics.

(6) Except for refresher training required by paragraph (e)(3) of this section, an employer may offer each employee a single test out option for any occupational category or subcategory that, if passed, will be considered an acceptable substitute for refresher training. If the employee does not pass this single test on the first attempt, the employer may not offer the employee additional attempts to test out for the occupational category or subcategory tested and the employer must provide refresher training to the employee in compliance with paragraph (e) of this section. Each test out option must:

(i) Be designed to determine whether an employee has the critical knowledge and skills to continue to be designated to perform safety-related service in that occupational category or subcategory, whether by craft, class, task, or other suitable terminology;

(ii) Meet the equivalent standards required for such assessment testing under formal training in that occupational category or subcategory; and

(iii) Be recorded under § 243.203 of this part.

(f) Except for the single test out option in paragraph (e)(6) of this section, an employer must consider ways to provide remedial training and retesting of any employee who fails to successfully pass any training or testing. Under this part, a failure of any test or training does not bar the person from successfully completing the training or testing at a later date.

§ 243.203 Records.

(a) General requirements for qualification status records; accessibility. Each employer shall maintain records to demonstrate the qualification status of each safety-related railroad employee that it employs.

(1) The records for former safety-related railroad employees shall be accessible for 6 years at the employer's system headquarters after the employment relationship ends.

(2) Current employee records shall be accessible at the employer's system headquarters.

(b) Employee information. The records shall include the following information concerning each such employee:

(1) The name of the employee;

(2) Occupational category or subcategory designations, or other suitable designations, for which the employee is deemed qualified;

(3) The dates that each formal training course was completed;

(4) The title of each formal training course successfully completed;

(5) If the safety-related railroad employee attended safety-related training offered by a business, a training organization, or a learning institution with an FRA-approved program, a copy of the transcript or appropriate record from that business, training organization, or learning institution;

(6) The employee's OJT performance, which shall include the unique name or identifier of the OJT program component in accordance with § 243.103, the date the OJT program component was successfully completed, and the identification of the designated instructor(s) determining that the employee successfully completed all OJT training necessary to be considered qualified to perform the safety-related tasks identified with the occupational categories or subcategories, or other suitable terminology, for which the employee is designated in accordance with the program required by this part;

(7) The date that the employee's status is determined to be qualified and the employee is designated to perform the safety-related duties identified with any particular occupational categories or subcategories, in accordance with the program required by this part;

(8) If an employee's qualification status was transferred from another entity with an approved program, a copy of the training record from that other entity; and

(9) Any additional information required by this part.

(c) Record accessibility for other than individual employee records. Except for records demonstrating the qualification status of each safety-related railroad employee as described in paragraph (b) of this section or otherwise specified in this part, each annual review required by this part shall be accessible for three calendar years after the end of the calendar year to which the annual review relates, and each test, inspection, or other event record required by this part shall be accessible for one calendar year after the end of the calendar year to which the event relates. Each employer shall make these records accessible at one headquarters location within the United States, including, but not limited to, a railroad's system headquarters, a holding company's headquarters, a joint venture's headquarters, a contractor's principal place of business or other headquarters located where the contractor is incorporated. This requirement does not prohibit an employer with divisions from also maintaining any of these records at any division headquarters.

(d) Availability of records. Each employer, training organization, or learning institution required to maintain records under this part shall:

(1) Make all records available for inspection and copying/photocopying to representatives of FRA, upon request during normal business hours; and

(2) Make an employee's records available for inspection and copying/photocopying to that employee, former employee, or such person's representative upon written authorization by such employee during normal business hours.

(e) Electronic recordkeeping. Nothing in this section precludes an employer, a training organization, or a learning institution from maintaining the information required to be retained under this part in an electronic format provided that:

(1) The employer, training organization, or learning institution maintains an information technology security program adequate to ensure the integrity of the electronic data storage system, including the prevention of unauthorized access to the program logic or individual records;

(2) The program and data storage system must be protected by a security system that utilizes an employee identification number and password, or a comparable method, to establish appropriate levels of program access meeting all of the following standards:

(i) No two individuals have the same electronic identity; and

(ii) A record cannot be deleted or altered by any individual after the record is certified by the employee who created the record;

(3) Any amendment to a record is either:

(i) Electronically stored apart from the record that it amends; or

(ii) Electronically attached to the record as information without changing the original record;

(4) Each amendment to a record uniquely identifies the person making the amendment;

(5) The system employed by the employer, training organization, or learning institution for data storage permits reasonable access and retrieval of the information in usable format when requested to furnish data by FRA representatives; and

(6) Information retrieved from the system can be easily produced in a printed format which can be readily provided to FRA representatives in a timely manner and authenticated by a designated representative of the railroad as a true and accurate copy of the railroad's records if requested to do so by FRA representatives.

(f) Transfer of records. If an employer ceases to do business and its assets will be transferred to a successor employer, it shall transfer to the successor employer all records required to be maintained under this part, and the successor employer shall retain them for the remainder of the period prescribed in this part.

§ 243.205 Periodic oversight.

(a) General. As part of the program required in accordance with this part, an employer shall adopt and comply with a program to conduct periodic oversight tests or inspections to determine if safety-related railroad employees comply with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders particular to FRA-regulated personal and work group safety. The program of periodic oversight shall commence on the day the employer files its program with FRA pursuant to § 243.101(a) or on the day the employer commences operations pursuant to § 243.101(b). The data gathered through the testing or inspection components of the program shall be used to determine whether systemic performance gaps exist, and to determine if modifications to the training component of the program are appropriate to close those gaps.

(b) Locomotive engineer and conductor oversight exception. Periodic oversight specified in this section is not required for employees covered by parts 240 and 242 of this chapter, but a railroad shall use results of the assessments required by those parts to determine if changes in its training programs are necessary to close any proficiency gaps found during those assessments.

(c) Railroad oversight. Each railroad shall identify supervisory employees, by category or subcategory, responsible for conducting periodic oversight tests or inspections for the safety-related railroad employees that it authorizes to perform safety-related duties on its property, except a railroad is not required to:

(1) Provide oversight for a contractor's safety-related railroad employees if that contractor is required to conduct its own periodic oversight because it meets the criteria specified in paragraph (g) of this section;

(2) Provide oversight for categories or subcategories of a contractor's safety-related railroad employees if the railroad does not employ supervisory employees who are qualified as safety-related railroad employees in those categories or subcategories; or

(3) Provide oversight for any supervisory employee identified by the railroad as responsible for conducting oversight in accordance with this section.

(d) Operational test exception for a railroad. A railroad is not required to perform operational tests of safety-related railroad employees employed by a contractor.

(e) Railroad oversight for contractors. A railroad may choose to require supervisory employees to perform oversight of safety-related railroad employees employed by a contractor either:

(1) When oversight test or inspection sessions are scheduled specifically to determine if safety-related employees are in compliance with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders particular to FRA-regulated personal and work group safety; or

(2) When a qualified railroad supervisory employee's duties place this person in the vicinity of one or more safety-related railroad employees employed by a contractor and performing the oversight would result in minimal disruption of this person's other assigned duties.

(f) Railroad's duty to notify contractor of non-compliance. A railroad that finds evidence of contractor employee non-compliance with Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders particular to FRA-regulated personal and work group safety during the periodic oversight shall provide that employee and that employee's employer with details of the non-compliance.

(g) Contractor oversight. Each contractor shall conduct periodic oversight tests or inspections of its safety-related railroad employees provided:

(1) A contractor employs more than 15 safety-related railroad employees;

(2) A contractor relies on training it directly provides to its own employees as the basis for qualifying those employees to perform safety-related duties on a railroad; and

(3) A contractor employs supervisory safety-related railroad employees capable of performing oversight.

(h) Oversight divided by written agreement. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (g) of this section, a railroad and a contractor may agree in writing that the contractor will provide the oversight by specifying in the program that the railroad has trained the contractor employees responsible for training and oversight; or

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements of this section that assign specific periodic oversight responsibilities to a railroad or a contractor, a railroad and a contractor may agree to a different periodic oversight responsibility arrangement in writing.

(i) Detailed records required. Each employer that conducts periodic oversight in accordance with this section must keep a record of the date, time, place, and result of each test or inspection. The records shall specify each person administering tests or inspections, and each person tested. The record shall also provide a method to record whether the employee complied with the monitored duties, and any interventions used to remediate non-compliance. Modifications of the program required by § 217.9 of this chapter may be used in lieu of this oversight program, provided a railroad specifies it has done so in its program submitted in accordance with this part.

(j) Additional records requirement. Records required under this section are subject to the requirements of § 243.203.

§ 243.207 Annual review.

(a) The purpose of this review is to determine if knowledge or performance gaps exist in the application of Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders. This section shall apply to each railroad once a program has been approved by FRA in accordance with this part. This section does not apply to a railroad with less than 400,000 total employee work hours annually. This section does not apply to employers other than railroads except as specified in paragraph (f) of this section.

(b) Except as provided for in paragraph (a) of this section, each railroad that is required to conduct periodic oversight in accordance with § 243.205 is also required to conduct an annual review, as provided in this section, and shall retain, at its system headquarters, one copy of the written annual review.

(c) Each railroad shall designate a person(s) who shall conduct a written annual review. The annual review shall be designed to identify knowledge or performance gaps in occupational categories and determine whether adjustments to the training component of the program are the appropriate intervention to close those gaps or otherwise improve the effectiveness of the program. Such review shall include analysis of the following data:

(1) Periodic oversight data required by § 243.205;

(2) Reportable accident/incident data as defined in part 225 of this chapter;

(3) FRA inspection report data;

(4) Employee training feedback received through a course evaluation process, if such feedback is available; and

(5) Feedback received from labor representatives, if such feedback is available.

(d) Based upon the results of the annual review, the designated person(s) shall coordinate any necessary adjustments to the initial and refresher training programs. At the railroad's option, the annual review required under this section may be conducted in conjunction with any periodic review required under part 217 of this chapter.

(e) If a railroad utilizes a contractor that directly trains its own safety-related railroad employees, the railroad shall notify the contractor of the relevant training program adjustments made to the railroad's program in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.

(f) A contractor shall use any information provided by a railroad to adjust its training specific to the Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders particular to FRA-regulated personal and work group safety.

(g) Prior to September 1 of each calendar year, each railroad to which this section applies shall complete its annual review for the previous calendar year.

§ 243.209 Railroad maintained list of contractors utilized.

(a) Each railroad utilizing contractors to supply the railroad with safety-related railroad employees shall maintain a list, at its system headquarters, with information regarding each contractor utilized unless:

(1) The railroad qualifies each of the contractor's safety-related railroad employees utilized; and

(2) The railroad maintains the training records for each of the contractor's safety-related railroad employees utilized.

(b) The listing required by paragraph (a) of this section shall include:

(1) The full corporate or business name of the contractor;

(2) The contractor's primary business and email address; and

(3) The contractor's primary telephone number.

(c) The information required by this section shall be continuously updated as additional contractors are utilized, and no contractor information shall be deleted from the list unless the contractor has not been utilized for at least 3 years from the end of the calendar year the contractor was last utilized.