[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR227.119]

[Page 394]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 227_OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart B_Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees.
 
Sec.  227.119  Training program.

    (a) The railroad shall institute an occupational noise and hearing 
conservation training program for all employees included in the hearing 
conservation program.
    (1) The railroad shall offer the training program to each employee 
included in the hearing conservation program at least once each calendar 
year. The interval between the date offered to any employee for the 
training in a calendar year and the date offered in the subsequent 
calendar year shall be no more than 450 days and no less than 280 days.
    (2) The railroad shall require each employee included in the hearing 
conservation program to complete the training at least once every 1095 
days.
    (b) The railroad shall provide the training required by paragraph 
(a) of this section in accordance with the following:
    (1) For employees hired after February 26, 2007, within six months 
of the employee's first tour of duty in a position identified within the 
scope of this part.
    (2) For employees hired on or before February 26, 2007, by Class 1, 
passenger, and commuter railroads, and railroads with 400,000 or more 
annual employee hours, by no later than February 26, 2009;
    (3) For employees hired on or before February 26, 2007, by railroads 
with fewer than 400,000 annual employee hours, by no later than February 
26, 2010.
    (c) The training program shall include and the training materials 
shall reflect, at a minimum, information on all of the following:
    (1) The effects of noise on hearing;
    (2) The purpose of hearing protectors;
    (3) The advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types 
of hearing protectors;
    (4) Instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care of hearing 
protectors;
    (5) The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the 
test procedures;
    (6) An explanation of noise operational controls, where used;
    (7) General information concerning the expected range of workplace 
noise exposure levels associated with major categories of railroad 
equipment and operations (e.g., switching and road assignments, hump 
yards near retarders, etc.) and appropriate reference to requirements of 
the railroad concerning use of hearing protectors;
    (8) The purpose of noise monitoring and a general description of 
monitoring procedures;
    (9) The availability of a copy of this part, an explanation of the 
requirements of this part as they affect the responsibilities of 
employees, and employees' rights to access records under this part;
    (10) How to determine what can trigger an excessive noise report, 
pursuant to Sec.  229.121(b); and
    (11) How to file an excessive noise report, pursuant to Sec.  
229.121(b).