The National Transportation Safety Board is not a regulatory agency. The Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by the U.S. Congress with investigating significant transportation accidents—including those accidents involving the transportation modes of railroad and pipeline—and with safety recommendations that will prevent future accidents.

Issues regarding railroads, transit systems, pipeline companies, and the transportation of hazardous materials should be addressed to the appropriate U.S. Department of Transportation agency, as follows:

• For railroad issues, see www.fra.dot.gov
• For transit systems, see www.fta.dot.gov
• For pipeline issues, see www.phmsa.dot.gov
• For hazardous materials issues, see www.phmsa.dot.gov
  

If we have investigated an accident and have finished the report, the report will be listed on our publication website: http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/publictn.htm

Typically, the on-scene portion is completed within 1 to 2 weeks of the accident. However, the on-scene investigation is typically the shortest phase in the process. Examining records, interviewing witnesses, performing tests, researching the issues, and developing the report take longer. Investigators work multiple investigations at the same time. Laboratory work needs to be completed. On average, an investigation is completed in about 12 to 18 months.

The Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations launches investigations to about a dozen accidents each year.

As of March 2009, 36 people work in the Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations. They include investigators, managers, writers and editors, and support staff.

For job announcements, see the following website: http://www.usajobs.gov/. Many factors affect our staffing level and our hiring needs, so please check this website.