Norfolk Southern’s CEO vows to further improve rail safety based on a consultant’s report
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – CEO of Norfolk Southern promised to continue working to improve safety after the railroad subsequently hired a consultant fiery The Ohio derailment recommended ensuring that safety is truly a priority at all levels and continuing many efforts already begun.
CEO Alan Shaw told railway employees in a statement letter Thursday that Norfolk Southern will take several emergency actions in response First report Among other things, Atkins Nuclear Secured has strengthened the way it responds to security incidents and assembled a dedicated team to work on implementing the consultant’s recommendations.
“I know that each of you feels as strongly as I do that we must do everything we can to prevent accidents that could impact communities like East Palestine in the future,” Shaw said in his letter to staff. “To be an industry leader, we must raise the bar. And that’s exactly what we do.”
A previous report of the Federal Railroad Administration said Norfolk Southern had too often been content to do only the bare minimum to ensure safety. The Atkins adviser touched on some of the same themes in his recommendations, but also said he had found “outstanding leaders at all levels committed to safety” and praised the railroad’s strong response to the derailment in East Palestine, which included also includes a commitment of more than $74 million to this community. Just Thursday, the railroad announced a $4.3 million grant to help the city overhaul its water treatment system.
Political cartoons
Atkins said Norfolk Southern needs to do a better job of ensuring that everyone across the railroad learns lessons from safety incidents and should continue to hire people to address critical shortages while trying to ease pressure on managers and increase employee strength train them to improve rather than discipline them for minor concerns.
Shaw said this report is just one of the first steps toward improving safety on the railroad and that Atkins will continue to recommend improvements over the next few years. Norfolk Southern also said this would be the case immediately after the East Palestine derailment Add more trackside detectors to detect mechanical problems before they can lead to derailments Rest of the industry to evaluate how to respond to alerts from these detectors.
Norfolk Southern and all major freight railroads have also promised to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s anonymous safety reporting system, but so far have been unable to do so agree They do this because they want to retain the ability to discipline workers in certain circumstances.
Norfolk Southern has worked this year to improve strained relations with its unions by addressing some of their problems Quality of life concerns about the lack of paid sick time and demanding schedules. The consultant recommended that the railroad continue to work with union leaders to find additional ways to improve safety.
Shaw said he will appoint a new vice president to encourage workers to make more suggestions to improve safety and operations, although that person will have to find ways to overcome railroad workers’ fears retribution when they express themselves.
As Norfolk Southern works to improve safety, it has also committed to making improvements at more than 70 of its facilities in 22 states in the eastern United States to improve morale.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
