{"data":{"id":"us/49-cfr-271.103","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"49 CFR 271.103","heading":"Risk-based hazard management program.","body":"(a) General. (1) An RRP shall include an integrated, system-wide, and ongoing risk-based HMP that proactively identifies hazards and mitigates the risks resulting from those hazards.\n(2) A risk-based HMP shall be fully implemented (i.e., activities initiated) within 36 months after FRA approves a railroad's RRP plan pursuant to § 271.301(d).\n(b) Risk-based hazard analysis. As part of its risk-based HMP, a railroad shall conduct a risk-based hazard analysis that addresses, at a minimum, the following aspects of a railroad's system: Infrastructure; equipment; employee levels and work schedules; operating rules and practices; management structure; employee training; and other areas impacting railroad safety that are not covered by railroad safety laws or regulations or other Federal laws or regulations. A railroad shall make the results of its risk-based hazard analysis available to FRA upon request. At a minimum, a risk-based hazard analysis shall:\n(1) Identify hazards by analyzing:\n(i) Aspects of the railroad's system, including any operational changes, system extensions, or system modifications; and\n(ii) Accidents/incidents, injuries, fatalities, and other known indicators of hazards;\n(2) Calculate risk by determining and analyzing the likelihood and severity of potential events associated with identified risk-based hazards; and\n(3) Compare and prioritize the identified risks for mitigation purposes.\n(c) Mitigation strategies. (1) As part of its risk-based HMP, a railroad shall design and implement mitigation strategies that improve safety by:\n(i) Mitigating or eliminating aspects of a railroad's system that increase risks identified in the risk-based hazard analysis; and\n(ii) Enhancing aspects of a railroad's system that decrease risks identified in the risk-based hazard analysis.\n(2) A railroad may use pilot projects, including pilot projects conducted by other railroads, to determine whether quantitative data suggests that a particular mitigation strategy has potential to succeed on a full-scale basis.","path":["Title 49—Transportation","Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation","CHAPTER II—FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","PART 271—RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM","Subpart B—Risk Reduction Program Requirements"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-49.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:34Z","sha256":"bfc8ff6bcc17f0712a2de1db3999ed5fed0ffccf66fec33ce63b6ccee4e33e33","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/49-cfr-271.101","next":"us/49-cfr-271.105"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}