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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Emergency Order Requiring Special Handling, Instruction and Testing of Railroad Operating Rules Pertaining to Hand-Operated Main Track Switches

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has determined that public safety compels issuance of this Emergency Order (EO) requiring railroads to modify their operating rules and take certain other actions necessary to ensure that railroad employees who dispatch non-signaled territory or who operate hand-operated main track switches (switches) in non- signaled territory, ensure the switches are restored to their proper (normal) position after use. For purposes of this EO, "employee" means an individual who is engaged or compensated by a railroad or by a contractor to a railroad to perform any of the duties defined in this EO. This EO is intended to reduce the risk of serious injury or death both to railroad employees and the general public.

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