A new commonsense regulation issued by the Kansas Department of Transportation is aimed at increasing state railroad and community safety.
KDOT announced via a news release Monday that a new proposed regulation will require all Kansas railroads to maintain a minimum of two crew members in the control compartment of any train’s lead locomotive. Governor Laura Kelly stated in the release, “Kansas has faced issues ranging from crew member fatigue to derailments which pose a threat to our safety and security – but by maintaining the current practice of requiring a two-person crew we can ensure the health and safety of Kansas workers.”
The new regulation states that all railroads operating within the state must follow this guidance except during switching operations, brake testing, safety inspections, or while performing setouts in conjunction with road service. The regulation follows similar legislation implemented by other states including Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, California, West Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, and Illinois.
At this time, nearly all Kansas railroads operate with two-person crews and will see no increase in labor costs due to the new regulation.
