Who’s Responsible? Understanding the Chain of Safety Accountability

For Class 1–3 Tracks (Excluding Main Tracks and Sidings)

When a violation happens on your site, do you know who is actually responsible in the eyes of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)?

When it comes to Class 1–3 tracks—especially those used in industrial, transload, and short line applications—accountability can get murky fast. While main tracks and sidings have clearer FRA oversight, non-main tracks often fall under shared or misunderstood responsibility.

Let’s break down the most common gray areas:

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1. Track Conditions

Who’s responsible:

• Facility owners/operators are directly responsible for maintaining Class 1–3 track infrastructure to meet FRA Part 213 standards.

Even if the track is only used occasionally, FRA compliance still applies—and "we don’t run often" isn't a defense.

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2. Required Inspections

Who’s responsible:

• If you own or operate the facility, you must ensure routine inspections are completed and documented.

  
  

Delegation ≠ elimination: If you outsource inspections, you still carry the liability for lapses.

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3. Railcar Movement & Safety Practices

Who’s responsible:

• Operators and site managers must ensure all switches, derails, and clearances are safe and compliant.

Any movement of railcars—even by contractor or third party—on your property is your legal risk if the site isn’t compliant.

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4. Training Gaps

Who’s responsible:

• You are.

If your team isn’t trained in basic FRA safety standards and incident response, the FRA can cite your site leadership, even if the employee was new, third-party, or temporarily assigned.

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How to Protect Yourself

• Keep inspection logs up to date and accessible.

• Don’t assume third parties are following protocol—audit their work.

• Schedule regular track inspections, safety audits, and staff refreshers with certified experts (Axiom can help).

• Document who is responsible for what internally—and review it quarterly.