Hours of Service Act

The government was also concerned that employees were working excessive hours, and that fatigue was a major source of operational errors. The Hours of Service Act of 1907 established a limit of sixteen consecutive working hours in twenty-four for those operating trains, and nine to thirteen hours on duty in twenty-four for dispatchers. Following the Act the average work week for employees fell from sixty-one hours in 1916 to forty-nine hours in 1923 (Clark, 1974). 

Contains a statement of FRA policy concerning enforcement of safety laws. The FRA can inqx)se civil penalties. The amount of the penalty is indicated in each section of the federal regulations. The Safety Appliance, Boiler Inspection, Signal Inspection, Accident Report, and Hours of Service Acts also allow for collection of civil penalties. The RSIA 1988 increased the amount of the fines. A 1983 amendment made railroads strictly liable for any penalties, irrespective of whether they were aware of the violation "It shall be unlawful... 

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