49 C.F.R. § 243.1

(a) The purpose of this part is to ensure that any person employed by a railroad or a contractor of a railroad as a safety-related railroad employee is trained and qualified to comply with any relevant Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders, as well as any relevant railroad rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders.

(b) This part contains the general minimum training and qualification requirements for each category and subcategory of safety-related railroad employee, regardless of whether the employee is employed by a railroad or a contractor of a railroad. Contractors shall coordinate with railroads and comply with the contents of this part, including those aspects of training that are specific to the contracting railroad's rules and procedures.

(c) The requirements in this part do not exempt any other requirement in this chapter.

(d) Unless otherwise noted, this part augments other training and qualification requirements contained in this chapter.

(e) The requirements in this part do not address hazardous materials training of “hazmat employees” as defined in 49 CFR 171.8 as such training is required pursuant to 49 CFR part 172, subpart H.

(f) The requirements in this part do not require an employer to adopt and comply with a training program when the training required for a qualified person is obtained through earning a college degree or certification from an accredited training organization or learning institution. For example, the requirements in this part do not require the training program of an engineering firm that conducts bridge inspections to include training of railroad bridge engineers on the subjects taught as part of a professional engineering curriculum covered by 49 CFR 237.51(b).

(g) The requirements in this part do not require an employer to train contractors who are hired to perform elective audits or assessments that are not required by Federal railroad safety laws, regulations, or orders.