Bridge Safety Standards Compliance Manual October 2018 Office of Railroad Safety Bridge Safety Standards Compliance Manual Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL GUIDANCE.......................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS MANUAL ............................................................................................... 1 SAFETY .................................................................................................................................... 1 BRIDGE SAFETY OVERSIGHT ..................................................................................................... 1 ACTIVITY-CODE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ......................................................................................... 2 PRIORITIZING OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................ 4 OPENING CONFERENCE ............................................................................................................ 6 CLOSING CONFERENCE ............................................................................................................ 6 DEFECT TRACKING ................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 – FIELD REPORTING PROCEDURES AND FORMS .................................................... 8 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 8 INSPECTION REPORT, FORM FRA F6180.96 .............................................................................. 8 General Instructions ............................................................................................................ 8 Special Instructions–Inspections from/to State Lines ........................................................... 9 Defect Line Item Form FRA F6180.96 ................................................................................10 Violation Recommended Line Item Form FRA F6180.96 ....................................................10 VIOLATION REPORT NARRATIVE – FORM FRA F6180.111 .........................................................11 General Instructions ...........................................................................................................11 Submission of Photographs as Evidence ............................................................................12 Statements of Witness ........................................................................................................13 SOURCE CODES ......................................................................................................................17 MULTIDISCIPLINE ACTIVITY CODE TABLE OF DEFINITIONS ...........................................................19 BRIDGE AND TRACK ACTIVITY CODE TABLE OF DEFINITIONS.......................................................29 DEFECT CODES .......................................................................................................................39 INSTRUCTIONS, FORM FRA F6180.96, INSPECTION REPORT .....................................................45 INSTRUCTIONS, FORM FRA F6180.111, TRACK VIOLATION REPORT FORM .................................54 CHAPTER 3 – BRIDGE SAFETY STANDARDS ............................................................................. 58 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................58 SUBPART A – GENERAL ...........................................................................................................59 § 237.1 Application .............................................................................................................59 § 237.3 Responsibility for compliance .................................................................................60 § 237.5 Definitions ..............................................................................................................63 § 237.7 Penalties ................................................................................................................64 § 237.9 Waivers ..................................................................................................................65 SUBPART B – RAILROAD BRIDGE SAFETY ASSURANCE ..............................................................65 § 237.31 Adoption of bridge management programs ..........................................................65 § 237.33 Content of bridge management programs ............................................................66 SUBPART C – QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS OF RESPONSIBLE PERSONS .........................70 § 237.51 Railroad bridge engineers ....................................................................................70 § 237.53 Railroad bridge inspectors ...................................................................................71 § 237.55 Railroad bridge supervisors .................................................................................72 § 237.57 Designation of individuals ....................................................................................72 SUBPART D – CAPACITY OF BRIDGES .......................................................................................73 § 237.71 Determination of bridge load capacities ...............................................................74 § 237.73 Protection of bridges from over-weight and over-dimension loads .......................78 i Bridge Safety Standards Compliance Manual SUBPART E – BRIDGE INSPECTION ...........................................................................................79 § 237.101 Scheduling of bridge inspections ........................................................................79 § 237.103 Bridge inspection procedures .............................................................................81 § 237.105 Special Inspections ............................................................................................82 § 237.107 Conduct of bridge inspections ............................................................................84 § 237.109 Bridge inspection records ...................................................................................84 § 237.111 Review of bridge inspection reports ...................................................................90 SUBPART F – REPAIR AND MODIFICATION OF BRIDGES ..............................................................91 § 237.131 Design ...............................................................................................................91 § 237.133 Supervision of repairs and modifications ............................................................92 SUBPART G – DOCUMENTATION, RECORDS, AND AUDITS OF BRIDGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS ..93 § 237.151 Audits; general ...................................................................................................93 § 237.153 Audits of inspections ..........................................................................................93 § 237.155 Documents and records .....................................................................................94 APPENDIX A – SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT OF AGENCY POLICY ON THE SAFETY OF RAILROAD BRIDGES .................................................................................................................................95 APPENDIX B – SCHEDULE OF CIVIL PENALTIES ........................................................................102 CHAPTER 4 – EXCEPTIONS TO THE STANDARDS .................................................................... 106 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................106 DEFECT REPORTS .................................................................................................................107 VIOLATION REPORTS .............................................................................................................107 Knowledge Standard ........................................................................................................108 Criteria Affecting the Seriousness of a Noncomplying Condition .......................................108 Complaint and Accident Investigations .............................................................................111 COMPLIANCE ORDERS AND COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS ..........................................................111 General Instructions .........................................................................................................111 Procedures .......................................................................................................................111 Documentation .................................................................................................................112 EMERGENCY ORDERS ............................................................................................................113 General Procedures .........................................................................................................113 Technical Considerations ................................................................................................. 114 Scheduling ........................................................................................................................114 Inspection .........................................................................................................................114