FRAFinal Rule

Critical Incident Stress Plans

TransportationLabor & WorkplaceHealthcare

Summary

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has created new rules requiring railroad companies to develop plans for helping employees and first responders cope with traumatic incidents like train accidents or deaths. These plans aim to provide mental health support and counseling to people who experience or witness serious railroad emergencies.

Key Points

  • 1Railroad companies must create written plans describing how they will support workers after traumatic events like accidents or fatalities
  • 2Plans should include access to counseling, mental health services, and peer support for affected employees and emergency responders
  • 3Companies must designate staff responsible for managing these support programs and training employees on available resources
  • 4The regulation applies to all railroad operators and aims to reduce long-term psychological harm from workplace trauma
  • 5Railroad companies must review and update their plans regularly to ensure they remain effective

Impact Assessment

If you work for a railroad company, you must now develop and implement mental health support plans for employees and first responders following traumatic incidents.

Impact Level
Significant
Geographic Scope

National

Compliance Cost

Moderate

Who is Affected
Transportation CompaniesWorkers/LaborersState Governments

Key Dates

Published

July 1, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.