The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued an Emergency order implementing a mask requirement for all freight and passenger railroad employees in all crafts. This comes after the recent Center of Disease Control guidelines.
According to the FRA, field observations from safety inspectors regarding mask use on railroad property indicate “that the critical practice of wearing a face mask is not consistent or uniform among railroad personnel. FRA has observed railroad personnel often not wearing a face mask on railroad property, both in situations where social distancing is possible and situations involving close proximity to others. FRA inspectors have also observed railroad personnel who did not put on a face mask when approached by the inspectors to discuss matters of railroad safety.”
Already in place, on February 1st, travelers and commuters are required to wear face masks as part of a new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). TCU joined with the TTD affiliate unions requesting a mask mandate on all Department of Transportation regulated (DOT) modes.
Click here to view the release from the FRA.