Norfolk Southern vows to rebuild safety culture amid US probes By Reuters

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Normal view of the positioning of the derailment of a prepare carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alan Freed

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw stated on Tuesday the railroad will maintain security conferences and work to revitalize its security tradition as U.S. officers introduced two new wide-ranging evaluations within the wake of a spate of accidents.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:) has been underneath fireplace after numerous derailments of its trains, significantly one it operated on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio that precipitated vehicles carrying poisonous vinyl chloride and different hazardous chemical compounds to spill and catch fireplace.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) each introduced new security probes.

The bulletins got here after the demise of a conductor in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday when a prepare was struck by a dump truck. The NTSB, Federal Railroad Administration and Occupational Security and Well being Administration earlier on Tuesday stated they have been investigating the demise.

“Tomorrow we’ll maintain security stand-down briefings reaching each worker throughout our community,” stated Shaw, who will testify Thursday earlier than a Senate Committee listening to into the East Palestine derailment. “Transferring ahead, we’re going to rebuild our security tradition from the bottom up. We’re going to make investments extra in security. This isn’t who we’re, it isn’t acceptable, and it’ll not proceed.”

Late Tuesday, the FRA stated it might conduct a 60-day supplemental security evaluation of Norfolk Southern Railway.

“After a collection of derailments and the demise of one among its staff, we’re initiating this additional supplemental security evaluation of Norfolk Southern, whereas additionally calling on Norfolk Southern to behave urgently to enhance its deal with security so the corporate can start incomes again the belief of the general public and its staff,” stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FRA will use data collected “to push Norfolk Southern to develop measures to mitigate dangers whereas figuring out applicable enforcement actions” and can subject a public report, Buttigieg added.

The NTSB stated that given the quantity and significance of current Norfolk Southern accidents it’s opening what it known as a particular investigation and “urges the corporate to take fast motion right this moment to evaluation and assess its security practices.”

Shaw added he “known as collectively each member of our administration staff this afternoon to emphasise the urgency of discovering new options.”

Following the East Palestine derailment, a few of the city’s 4,700 residents have reported illnesses corresponding to rashes and respiration difficulties and concern long-term well being results however no deaths or accidents have been reported after the accident.

Since December 2021, NTSB has launched investigation groups to 5 important accidents involving Norfolk Southern together with a March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight prepare derailed close to Springfield, Ohio.

“The continued protected operations of Norfolk Southern is significant to the US. The NTSB is worried that a number of organizational elements could also be concerned within the accidents, together with security tradition,” the NTSB stated.