Norfolk Southern agrees to pilot the Federal Safety Reporting Program
Norfolk Southern, the operator of the toxic chemical freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, nearly a year ago, has agreed to participate in a federal program that allows employees to confidentially report safety concerns, the company and federal officials announced Monday. .
In the wake of the derailment, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called on Norfolk Southern and the nation's other major freight railroads to join the program, one of a series of steps he urged them to take to improve safety.
The railroads committed to participating in March, but in the months that followed pushed for changes to the program to address concerns about its operation. None of the major freight railroads, known as Class I railroads, had officially agreed to participate until the announcement on Monday.
Norfolk Southern's participation in the program, known as the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, or C3RS, will have a limited scope. The railroad will conduct a one-year pilot program that will apply to approximately 1,000 employees in Atlanta; Elkhart, Ind.; and Roanoke, Virginia, which are members of two unions, a small portion of the company's workforce of about 20,000 people.
“Norfolk Southern has taken a good first step, and it is time for the other Class I railroads to back their conversations with action and fulfill their commitments to join this close call reporting system and keep America's rail network safe ,” said Mr. Buttigieg. said in a statement.
Alan H. Shaw, CEO of Norfolk Southern, said in a statement that the company was “committed to setting the gold standard for railroad safety, and we are proud to be the first Class I railroad to deliver on our promise to co-develop and launch a C3RS program.”
The federal program, which is modeled after a similar program for pilots and other aviation personnel, allows railroad employees to report safety concerns without worrying about potential discipline. But freight railroad companies expressed concern that workers could abuse the program as a way to protect themselves from punishment after making dangerous mistakes.
The Association of American Railroads, an industry group, said Monday that the other major freight railroad companies are still willing to join the program.
“This pledge remains unchanged,” said Jessica Kahanek, a spokeswoman for the group. She added: “AAR and its member rail companies have collectively and individually engaged in good faith discussions with the government and rail workers about strengthening the program.”