Norfolk Southern, an Atlanta-based railroad company, has fallen short of the gold standard for safety it aims to achieve, according to a 143-page report released by the Federal Railroad Administration. The report comes after one of Norfolk Southern’s trains derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, causing a fire and a spill of toxic chemicals, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of residents.
The report highlights poor communication and mistrust between employees and managers as barriers to improving safety within the company. It raises concerns about the adequacy of training for both employees and managers. The Federal Railroad Administration emphasized the importance of railroad companies prioritizing safety, especially at a time when questions about their operations and safety practices are being raised by those working on or living near train tracks.
The agency plans to conduct similar safety culture reviews at other major freight railroads such as CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, but it has not set a timeline for these reviews.
Norfolk Southern’s CEO, Alan Shaw, has expressed a commitment to collaborate with workers to address the report’s findings. Shaw has repeatedly called for his railroad to set the gold standard for safety within the industry. The company is already working on improvements announced earlier this year, and it will strive to address the recommendations put forth by the regulators.
The report raises concerns about Norfolk Southern’s focus on meeting minimum safety requirements rather than addressing safety concerns that fall outside the existing rules and regulations. Furthermore, the agency discovered instances where trust was lacking between employees and supervisors, leading to employees refusing to meet with investigators due to fears of potential disciplinary actions for speaking out about safety concerns.
Despite Shaw’s defense of Norfolk Southern’s safety record and claims of fewer derailments since operational changes were implemented in 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration noted that the rate of accidents per million train miles on Norfolk Southern increased more rapidly than any other major freight railroad between 2018 and 2022.
The agency also examined how the company monitors sensors and found that there was often only one employee responsible for monitoring approximately 1,200 detectors across Norfolk Southern’s extensive network of tracks. Additionally, communication regarding mechanical problems and safety concerns was primarily reliant on email, potentially causing delays in addressing issues promptly.
In addition to the Federal Railroad Administration’s report, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined Norfolk Southern $49,111 for inadequate provision of protective gear and hazardous materials training to workers involved in rebuilding the tracks following the derailment in East Palestine. As part of a settlement with OSHA, Norfolk Southern agreed to establish a medical monitoring program for workers who were present at the site and to enhance training for handling future derailments.
Tony Cardwell, the leader of the union representing track maintenance workers, expressed appreciation for OSHA’s efforts in holding the railroad accountable. Cardwell described the railroad’s actions as derelict and highlighted the importance of agencies enforcing necessary measures to ensure worker safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the cause of the Ohio derailment, attributing it to an overheating bearing on one of the rail cars. The derailment occurred despite an alarm triggered by a sensor, indicating the issue, giving the crew insufficient time to halt the train before hazardous chemical-loaded cars derailed.
Norfolk Southern is committed to addressing the regulators’ recommendations and implementing necessary changes to enhance safety within the company. The railroad aims to learn from the incidents, collaborate with its employees, and strive to set a higher standard for safety in the industry.
In conclusion, Norfolk Southern has received a report from the Federal Railroad Administration highlighting the company’s shortcomings in achieving the desired safety standard. The report emphasizes the need for improved communication, trust, and training within the company. Norfolk Southern is working on addressing these issues and collaborating with workers to ensure safety.
