Posted: February 2007

New Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Occupational Noise Exposure

Effective: February 26, 2007

A new rule by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeks to prevent hearing loss by railroad employees who spend most of their working hours inside the cab of a locomotive. The new rule, patterned in large part after the OSHA regulations for noise and hearing conservation for general industry, would reduce unnecessary noise exposure and potential hearing loss of locomotive engineers and trainmen. It modifies current noise level standards, which were established in 1980, and also sets out additional requirements.

The new rule requires railroads to conduct noise monitoring and to implement a hearing conservation program for railroad operating employees whose noise exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. The changes require manufacturers to design and build locomotives with quieter cabs and for railroads to maintain them to new standards. In addition, the rule requires train crews to use hearing protection and railroads to provide training in hearing loss prevention, implement hearing conservation programs and conduct regular noise monitoring.

FRA expects that this proposed rule will reduce the likelihood of noise-induced hearing loss for railroad operating employees.

Go here to download the 74-page Federal Register document