PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Railroad companies may give workers sleeping places (for example crew rooms, camp or bunk cars, and trailers) only if those places are clean, safe, and sanitary, let workers rest without noise the company controls, and have indoor toilets, drinkable water, and other features that protect health. After July 7, 1976, companies may not start building or rebuilding such sleeping places in or right next to areas where switching or humping happens, as the Secretary of Transportation’s rules say. Any carrier that used camp cars had to fully retrofit or replace them by December 31, 2009. By April 1, 2010, the Secretary of Transportation, with the Secretary of Labor, had to make rules to carry out these requirements and require all camp cars to follow them by December 31, 2010. The Secretary decides if camp cars meet the rules, can ban non‑compliant cars, and may impose civil fines under chapter 213.

Title 49, §21106

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

A railroad carrier and its officers and agents—

(1)may provide sleeping quarters (including crew quarters, camp or bunk cars, and trailers) for employees, and any individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier, only if the sleeping quarters are clean, safe, and sanitary, give those employees and individuals an opportunity for rest free from the interruptions caused by noise under the control of the carrier, and provide indoor toilet facilities, potable water, and other features to protect the health of employees; and

(2)may not begin, after July 7, 1976, construction or reconstruction of sleeping quarters referred to in clause (1) of this section in an area or in the immediate vicinity of an area, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation, in which railroad switching or humping operations are performed.

(b)Camp Cars.—

Not later than December 31, 2009, any railroad carrier that uses camp cars shall fully retrofit or replace such cars in compliance with subsection (a).

(c)Regulations.—

Not later than April 1, 2010, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall prescribe regulations to implement subsection (a)(1) to protect the safety and health of any employees and individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier that uses camp cars, which shall require that all camp cars comply with those regulations by December 31, 2010. In prescribing the regulations, the Secretary shall assess the action taken by any railroad carrier to fully retrofit or replace its camp cars pursuant to this section.

(d)Compliance and Enforcement.—

The Secretary shall determine whether a railroad carrier has fully retrofitted or replaced a camp car pursuant to subsection (b) and shall prohibit the use of any non-compliant camp car. The Secretary may assess civil penalties pursuant to chapter 213 for violations of this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2110645:62(a)(3), (4).Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2939, 34 Stat. 1415, § 2(a)(3), (4); added July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–348, § 4(a)(3), 90 Stat. 818; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 16(2), 102 Stat. 634. 45:62(e).Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2939, 34 Stat. 1415, § 2(e); added June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 19(b)(1), 102 Stat. 638. 45:63a(d) (related to 45:62(a)(3)).Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2939, 34 Stat. 1415, § 3A(d) (related to § 2(a)(3)); added July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–348, § 4(d), 90 Stat. 819; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 16(4), 102 Stat. 635. In this section, before clause (1), the words “and any individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier” are substituted for 45:62(e) because of the restatement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–432 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, in par. (1), substituted “sanitary, give those employees and individuals an opportunity for rest free from the interruptions caused by noise under the control of the carrier, and provide indoor toilet facilities, potable water, and other features to protect the health of employees;” for “sanitary and give those employees and individuals an opportunity for rest free from the interruptions caused by noise under the control of the carrier;”, and added subsecs. (b) to (d).

§21106 Limitations on Employee Sleeping Quarters