49 CFR §227.209
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)General.
- (1)A railroad shall adopt and comply with its written program of instruction on EEBAs for all of its employees in its general EEBA program under § 227.211 (subject employees). The program of instruction shall be maintained at the railroad's system headquarters and shall be amended, as necessary, to reflect any significant changes.
- (2)This program may be integrated with the railroad's program of instruction on operating rules under § 217.11 of this chapter or its program of instruction for hazmat employees under § 172.704 of this title. If the program is not integrated with either of these programs, it must be written in a separate document that is available for inspection by FRA.
- (b)Subject matter. The railroad's program of instruction shall require that the subject employees demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:
- (1)Why the EEBA is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the EEBA.
- (2)The capabilities and limitations of the EEBA, particularly the limited time for use.
- (3)How to use the EEBA effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the EEBA malfunctions.
- (4)How to inspect, put on, remove, and use the EEBA, and how to check the seals of the EEBA.
- (5)Procedures for maintenance and storage of the EEBA that must be followed.
- (6)The requirements of this subpart related to the responsibilities of employees and the rights of employees to have access to records.
- (7)The hazardous materials classified as PIH materials.
- (c)Dates of initial instruction and intervals for periodic instruction.
- (1)The instruction for current subject employees shall be provided on an initial basis no later than 30 days prior to the date of compliance identified in § 227.217. Initial instruction of new subject employees shall occur either 30 days prior to the date of compliance identified in § 227.217 or before assignment to jobs where the deployment of EEBAs on a locomotive is required, whichever is later.
- (2)Initial instruction shall be supplemented with periodic instruction at least once every three years.
- (d)Records of instruction. A railroad shall maintain a record of employees provided instruction in compliance with this section and retain these records for three years.