Improvements Needed in FRA's Hazardous Materials Inspection and Safety Reporting Programs

GAO discussed the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) hazardous materials inspection program and five railroads' reporting of accidents and injuries. GAO found that: (1) FRA inspection coverage was minimal; (2) from 1985 to 1989, hazardous material releases increased by 40 percent; (3) track and equipment defects and human error were the two primary causes of reported rail accidents; (4) FRA inspectors did not adequately inspect shipper and railroad safety procedures; and (5) FRA did not systematically identify shippers transporting hazardous materials by rail. GAO also found that: (1) railroads did not report complete or accurate injury and accident data; (2) the majority of hazardous material releases did not result from rail accidents, but from defective equipment; and (3) there were not enough inspectors or adequate guidelines to effectively implement the inspection program.