Protection

C³RS provides legal protection from carrier discipline and/or decertification and FRA enforcement under certain conditions.

Who receives protection?

Carrier and union employees observing a safety problem or experiencing a close call event and reporting that event receive protection if they are covered by an active IMOU with FRA. Eligible IMOUs include:

• UP North Platte Service Unit IMOU
• CP Chicago Service Unit Area Road Territory IMOU

What conditions offer protection?

• Employee action/lack of action was not intended to damage carrier operations/ equipment/personnel.
• Employee reported the unsafe condition within 48 hours and BTS accepted the report.

When are reporting employees NOT protected?

• Action/lack of action was intended to damage carrier operations/equipment, injure other employees, or place others in danger.
• Action/lack of action involved a criminal offense.
• Employee behavior involved substance abuse.
• Report contained falsified information.
• Event resulted in a railroad accident/incident.
• Event resulted in a release of hazardous material.
• Event was observed in real time and reported to the carrier, or observed as part of OPS (Operating Practices) testing.

When are carriers NOT protected?

• If their employee reporting the close call is not protected under the above conditions.

How is reported information protected?

• BTS protects confidential C³RS report information from unauthorized release.