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The Federal Railroad Administration is proposing a rule aimed at reducing train crews' exposure to unnecessary noise and preventing engineers' hearing loss in locomotive cabs. The administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled "Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees."

The rule would require manufacturers to design and build locomotives with quieter cabs, and railroads to maintain the power units to new standards. The rule also would support some noise reduction features already included in new locomotives, such as better insulation, relocation of air-brake exhaust piping and less-vibrating cab equipment.

In addition, the rule would require train crews to use hearing protection devices and mandate that railroads provide hearing-loss prevention training, implement hearing conservation programs and conduct regular noise monitoring.

"A quieter workspace not only protects against hearing loss, but contributes to better long-term health as well," said FRA Acting Administrator Betty Monro in a prepared statement.

The rule will not impose "significant additional costs" on railroads, FRA officials believe.

The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee — a rulemaking body comprising representatives from the FRA, Association of American Railroads, railroad industry, rail labor and suppliers — examined occupational noise and recommended that FRA update existing regulations.

"The safety of employees is very important to the railroads, and the industry has already voluntarily taken many actions to limit exposure to unnecessary noise," said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger. "We believe that conducting hearing tests for trainmen and conductors — as is already done for locomotive engineers — will further enhance their personal safety.