SF 4127

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/10/2020 08:48am

A bill for an act
relating to railroads; providing for safety training for emergency preparedness in
rail yards; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 115E.042, by adding a
subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 115E.042, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Railroad worker safety training. new text end

new text begin (a) Each calendar year, all class one and
class two railroad carriers must perform at least two live rail-yard evacuation drills that are:
new text end

new text begin (1) not computer simulated; and
new text end

new text begin (2) conducted with the carrier's employees while the employees are on duty to that carrier
at rail-yard locations specified in paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Class one and class two carriers must conduct evacuation drills according to paragraph
(a) at rail yards where:
new text end

new text begin (1) a carrier moves one or more rail cars containing hazardous material, spots rail cars
to an industry, blocks rail cars for departure, sets rail cars out from a train, or switches or
inspects rail cars; and
new text end

new text begin (2) more than 400 rail cars are moved or pass through each calendar week.
new text end

new text begin (c) A carrier must include employees in the evacuation planning, live drills, and
postevacuation reviews and debriefings for drills. For postevacuation reviews and debriefings
for drills, a carrier must identify to employees:
new text end

new text begin (1) the placarded hazardous materials that move through the yard on a scheduled basis;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) emergency actions to immediately take when employees come into contact with
hazardous materials.
new text end

new text begin (d) At rail yards where paragraph (b) applies, a carrier must post:
new text end

new text begin (1) evacuation routes for each rail yard;
new text end

new text begin (2) the location of each lighted wind sock; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the location of rally points or shelters.
new text end

new text begin (e) Public emergency response or chemical assessment teams may attend evacuation
drills under this subdivision, and a carrier may coordinate evacuation drills under this
subdivision with emergency response drills conducted by those teams.
new text end

new text begin (f) Evacuation drills under this subdivision must include all carrier employees who are
assigned to work at the yard at the time of a drill. An employee who works at the yard but
was not present for a drill for three consecutive years must participate in a drill in the fourth
year, regardless of assignment location at the time of the drill.
new text end

new text begin (g) Evacuation drills must include the designated safety representatives of employees
represented under the Railway Labor Act, if available. If the safety representatives are
unable to attend drills, the carrier must report to the safety representatives according to
paragraph (h).
new text end

new text begin (h) Carriers must annually report evacuation drills under this subdivision to:
new text end

new text begin (1) local emergency response authorities;
new text end

new text begin (2) the Office of Commercial Freight Rail Inspections in the Minnesota Department of
Transportation;
new text end

new text begin (3) the assigned hazardous material inspector; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the safety representatives of employees represented under the Railway Labor Act,
if the safety representatives did not attend the evacuation drills.
new text end

new text begin (i) Nothing in this subdivision limits a carrier's use of computer-simulated training in
addition to the live exercises required in this subdivision.
new text end