FRA Rulemaking on Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus
DoT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has proposed to amend its regulations related to occupational safety and health in locomotive cabs in three ways. First, pursuant to a 2008 Congressional mandate, FRA has proposed to include requirements that railroads provide an appropriate atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus (EEBA) to the members of the train crew and certain other employees while they are occupying the locomotive cab of a freight train transporting a hazardous material that would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of release during an accident. Second, FRA has proposed to reflect the additional subject matter by changing the name of the part from “Occupational Noise Exposure” to “Occupational Safety and Health in the Locomotive Cab” and by making other conforming amendments. Third, FRA has proposed to remove the provision on the preemptive effect of the requirements as unnecessary. Comments are due December 6, 2010. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-24732.htm