Wisconsin Administrative Code › Office of the Commissioner of Railroads › Chapter RR 2 - Railroads › Section RR 2.17 - Motor vehicles-general

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) Section   RR 2.17   prescribes minimum
			 standards for the transportation of employes by motor vehicles to and from
			 their places of employment and during the course of their employment and shall
			 be observed by all railroads in their operations within the state of
			 Wisconsin.
(2) The intent of the
			 rules will be realized a) by applying the rules in full to all new motor
			 vehicles and related items or equipment when placed in service, b) by applying
			 all except s.
			 RR 2.18(1),
			 (2), (3), (5), and (6) to existing vehicles,
			 c) by applying all rules where there is major reconstruction of the vehicles
			 and to those parts used as replacements in the partial reconstruction of a
			 vehicle, d) these regulations shall not apply to taxicabs or other vehicles
			 licensed by competent authority to transport the public, and used by a railroad
			 to transport its employes.
(3) All
			 motor vehicles and related items or equipment shall be designed for use in the
			 manner contemplated in these rules.
(4) Motor vehicles and related items or
			 equipment shall be cleaned when necessary and inspected at such intervals as
			 experience has shown to be necessary. Any motor vehicle or related items or
			 equipment found or known to be defective so as to endanger life or property
			 shall be promptly repaired or taken out of service until repairs can be made.
			 Repairs shall be made by competent persons. Compartments for employes shall be
			 kept in a reasonably clean and sanitary condition, and employes shall cooperate
			 in maintaining such conditions.
(5)
			 It is recognized that these regulations cannot cover all contingencies, and
			 accordingly the office may, on application or on its own motion, modify, grant
			 exceptions to, or prescribe higher standards than the rules contained in this
			 chapter.
(6) In times of emergency,
			 if approved vehicles are not available, vehicles not complying with these
			 regulations may be used. An emergency shall be considered as existing when rail
			 traffic has been stopped or disrupted (or where there is a threat of stoppage
			 or disruption) because of derailment, accident, disastrous storm, fire, flood
			 or other similar condition. Ordinarily weather conditions including usual
			 storms especially in winter shall not be considered to call for emergency
			 operation.
(7) As used in these
			 rules, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Employe" means an individual employed
			 for any period in any work for which he is compensated by a rail common
			 carrier.
(b) "Employer" means a
			 railroad common carrier who employs one or more employes.
(c) "Heating facilities" means a hot water
			 radiator type system, or any other generally acceptable form of heating which
			 does not emit nauseous fumes or gases into the vehicle.
(d) "Material" means all items that can be
			 lawfully transported by motor vehicles.
(e) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle which
			 is self-propelled and designed primarily for highway use, and which may or may
			 not be equipped with retractable flange wheels for operation on railroad
			 tracks.
(f) "Rear compartment"
			 means a crew cab which may be a continuation of the driver's cab, providing
			 additional seating facilities, or an auxiliary cab located directly behind the
			 driver's cab.
(g) "Seating
			 facilities" means seats provided for workers other than the driver.
(h) "Tools" means hand or power-driven
			 instruments and machines used in the efficient prosecution of a trade or
			 calling.