Railroad companies can now propose their own safety rules for bridge workers

The US railroad safety agency is removing some old workplace safety rules. It will also let railroad companies propose new ways to keep bridge workers safe, as long as they prove the new methods are just as good or better.

For decades, railroad companies had to follow specific, detailed rules for worker safety, even if technology or practices had moved on. This change means they can now suggest their own solutions, which could make it easier to adopt new tools or methods without waiting for the government to update its rulebook. It shifts some of the burden of innovation from the regulator to the regulated.