49 CFR § 270.101 - System safety program; general.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s270.101"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 270.101 - System safety program; general."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "270.101"
section_name: "System safety program; general."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "270"
part_name: "SYSTEM SAFETY PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "81 FR 53896, Aug. 12, 2016, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "270"
---


# 270.101 System safety program; general.

(a) Each passenger rail operation subject to this part shall establish and fully implement a system safety program that continually and systematically evaluates railroad safety hazards on its system and manages the resulting risks to reduce the number and rates of railroad accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities. A system safety program shall include a risk-based hazard management program and risk-based hazard analysis designed to proactively identify hazards and mitigate or eliminate the resulting risks. The system safety program shall be fully implemented and supported by a written SSP plan described in § 270.103.

(b) A system safety program shall be designed so that it promotes and supports a positive railroad safety culture.

[85 FR 12844, Mar. 4, 2020]