What safety requirements apply to a utility employee on a railroad crew? Answer in under 100 words.
Details / How it works
Under § 218.22, a utility employee is subject to Hours of Service Act requirements and regulations for training, alcohol/drug control, and hours of service record keeping. They must be assigned to only one crew at a time. To work without blue signal protection, the controlling locomotive must be under the engineer's control, the engineer must be in the cab, and the utility employee must establish communication with a designated crew member. The designated crew member must notify all crew members of the utility employee's presence and identity. The utility employee may then perform specific functions such as setting or releasing handbrakes, coupling or uncoupling air hoses, and conducting air brake tests. After ceasing work, the utility employee must notify the designated crew member, who then notifies the crew of the release. No more than three utility employees may be attached to one crew.
Exceptions & edge cases
If the utility employee is not assigned or authorized to work with a crew under the conditions of § 218.22(b), they must be provided blue signal protection in accordance with §§ 218.23 through 218.30. The alternative protection specified in § 221.16 for rear end marking devices is not affected. Communications required for notification must be conducted via direct verbal contact, radio complying with part 220, or oral telecommunication of equivalent integrity.
Sources
- [1]U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 49 CFR 218.22 — Utility employee · as of 2026-08-26
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