A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the rail division of the department of transportation to adopt rules requiring rail carriers to provide safe walkways for railroad employees in work areas.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Rail Division of the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules requiring all Class I rail carriers in this State to provide safe walkways for railroad employees in areas in which those employees regularly perform their duties in yards, sidings, industries, pass tracks, and meeting points at which employees are required to perform roll‑by inspections. These rules shall provide that the minimum size of walking ballasts shall be determined and agreed upon jointly by management and labor safety committees. The rules adopted under this act shall not apply to tourist or short line carriers; however, the rules shall provide that the State, after notice and hearing, and upon a showing of a reasonable probability of harm to the safety of railroad employees performing work along the sides of tracks, may order a tourist or short line railroad to eliminate any unsafe working condition within a reasonable period of time.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.