(a)
(1) minimum training standards for each class and craft of safety-related railroad employee (as defined in section 20102) and equivalent railroad carrier contractor and subcontractor employees, which shall require railroad carriers, contractors, and subcontractors to qualify or otherwise document the proficiency of such employees in each such class and craft regarding their knowledge of, and ability to comply with, Federal railroad safety laws and regulations and railroad carrier rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws and regulations;
(2) a requirement that railroad carriers, contractors, and subcontractors develop and submit training and qualification plans to the Secretary for approval, including training programs and information deemed necessary by the Secretary to ensure that all safety-related railroad employees receive appropriate training in a timely manner; and
(3) a minimum training curriculum, and ongoing training criteria, testing, and skills evaluation measures to ensure that safety-related railroad employees, and contractor and subcontractor employees, charged with the inspection of track or railroad equipment are qualified to assess railroad carrier compliance with Federal standards to identify defective conditions and initiate immediate remedial action to correct critical safety defects that are known to contribute to derailments, accidents, incidents, or injuries, and, in implementing the requirements of this paragraph, take into consideration existing training programs of railroad carriers.
(b)
(c)
References in Text
The date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), is the date of enactment of div. A of Pub. L. 110–432, which was approved Oct. 16, 2008.
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 114–94 substituted "railroad carrier compliance with Federal standards" for "railroad compliance with Federal standards".
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Report and Regulations on Certification of Certain Crafts or Classes of Employees
Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title IV, §402(b)–(d), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4884, provided that:
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) car repair and maintenance employees;
"(2) onboard service workers;
"(3) rail welders;
"(4) dispatchers;
"(5) signal repair and maintenance employees; and
"(6) any other craft or class of employees that the Secretary determines appropriate.
"(d)
[For definitions of "Secretary", "railroad carrier", and "railroad", as used in section 402(b)–(d) of Pub. L. 110–432, set out above, see section 2(a) of Pub. L. 110–432, set out as a note under section 20102 of this title.]