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Canada Transport Minister David Collenette June 19 approved new rules governing rail workers' service hours and fatigue management.


The new rules, which would become effective April 1, 2003, and apply to 28 federally regulated railways, combine hours of work and rest.


The rules require railroads to file general fatigue-management plans when workers exceed 64-hour limits or in emergency situations; cover yard workers and management employees performing operational duties, who weren't covered by previous rules; prevent improper practices, such as allowing employees to go off duty and immediately return to duty enroute; and require railroads to give workers six to eight hours of undisturbed rest before they return to duty.


In accordance with Railway Safety Act, Railway Association of Canada (RAC) last year developed rules addressing fatigue issues; RAC in October filed for Transport Canada approval.


"These new rules will provide, for the first time, a comprehensive and enforceable regime on fatigue management in the rail sector," said Collenette in a prepared statement.