Thursday, July 02, 2009
FRA seeks comment on interim interpretation of employee rest
Rail employers will be prohibited from contacting train employees at home during rest periods under amendments to the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, set to go into effect July 16.
According to a notice published in the June 26 Federal Register, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comment until July 27 on an interim statement and related interpretations of hours-of-service amendments for employee rest. Train employees are limited to 276 hours of time on duty per month, and may not work more than 12 consecutive hours at a time. The new HOS rule requires 10 hours (instead of eight) of uninterrupted off-duty rest during the 24 hours before the employee can go back on duty.
Railroad carriers, contractors or subcontractors would be prohibited from communicating with train employees or signal employees by any manner that could reasonably disrupt the employee's off-duty rest, except in the case of emergency.