To enact section 4955.37 of the Revised Code to establish "Safe Zones" on railroad tracks for the safety of railroad employees and to name this act the Paul Payne Safe Zone Act.
HB851 would create a new section of Ohio law establishing “Safe Zones” around railroad tracks to protect railroad employees performing work near active tracks. The bill defines a safe zone by specific vertical and horizontal clearance measurements, and it also sets different minimum clearances for areas occupied by moving railroad equipment depending on track speed. It further defines “obstruction” broadly to include debris, vegetation, structures, uneven terrain, and other conditions that could endanger workers.
Under the bill, railroads would be required to keep safe zones under their control free of obstructions. If an obstruction cannot reasonably be removed, the railroad could, with Public Utilities Commission approval, install warning signs identifying the area as having substandard clearance. The Public Utilities Commission would be authorized to conduct periodic, including unannounced, inspections and investigate complaints, with participation by both the complainant’s representative and the railroad’s representative when a complaint triggers an inspection. Violations would be subject to civil fines of $100 to $500 per violation, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense. The act would be named the Paul Payne Safe Zone Act.
The bill would add a new regulatory and enforcement framework to the Revised Code governing railroad right-of-way safety and workplace protection for railroad employees. It would place affirmative duties on railroads to maintain clearance standards, create a complaint and inspection process administered by the Public Utilities Commission, and authorize penalties for noncompliance. The measure would affect railroad operators, employees working on or near tracks, and the commission’s inspection and rulemaking responsibilities under Chapter 119.
Because the bill was only introduced and no committee transcript or vote record is available, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess. The bill’s sponsorship and cosponsorship list suggests support for the workplace-safety purpose of the measure, and its title and structure indicate a pro-safety, pro-worker framing. However, without recorded debate, the level of support or opposition from railroads, regulators, or other stakeholders cannot be determined from the available materials.
The main likely points of contention are the operational burden on railroads, the cost and feasibility of clearing or marking substandard clearances, and the scope of PUC inspection authority, including unannounced inspections and complaint-driven investigations. Railroads may also object to the broad definition of “obstruction,” the specific clearance requirements, and the per-day penalty structure. On the other hand, supporters would likely emphasize worker safety, clearer standards, and the need for enforceable protections in hazardous trackside environments.