Track and Rail and Infrastructure Integrity Compliance Manual : Volume III - Chapter 2 - Bridge Worker Safety Standards

On January 30, 1991, FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Bridge Worker Safety Standards (56 FR 3434) (“NPRM”) that set forth proposals to address those hazards encountered by railroad bridge employees. The proposal included standards for fall protection, personal protective equipment, and contingencies for working over or adjacent to water. As noted in the preamble of the NPRM, pertinent, applicable regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) existed, but confusion concerning the authority and enforcement of those standards was prevalent. FRA determined that the safety interests of railroad employees would best be served through a regulatory program of its own.