Secretary Buttigieg Directs Further Motion whereas Calling on Norfolk Southern to Reinforce Security Tradition with Administration and Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) right this moment introduced its plan to conduct a 60-day supplemental security evaluation of Norfolk Southern Railway following a number of security incidents. This in-depth evaluation of Norfolk Southern is along with numerous actions taken by the U.S. Division of Transportation over the previous a number of weeks to enhance freight rail security and accountability to guard staff and communities.

“After a sequence of derailments and the dying of certainly one of 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 workers,” mentioned U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This comes as USDOT continues its personal pressing actions to additional enhance freight rail security and accountability.”

FRA’s security staff will evaluation the findings and proposals of the 2022 Norfolk Southern system audit and revisit FRA’s suggestions and the scope of the railroad’s responses. As well as, FRA will assess the next operational components:

• Monitor, sign, and rolling inventory upkeep, inspection, and restore practices;
• Safety for workers engaged on rail infrastructure, locomotives, and rail automobiles;
• Communication between transportation departments and mechanical and engineering employees;
• Operation management heart procedures and dispatcher coaching;
• Compliance with federal Hours of Service laws;
• Evaluating outcomes of operational testing of workers’ execution and comprehension of all relevant working guidelines and federal laws;
• Coaching and qualification packages out there to all railroad workers, together with engineer and conductor coaching and certification;
• Upkeep, inspection, and calibration insurance policies and procedures for wayside defect detectors;
• Procedures associated to all wayside defect detector alerts;
• Measures carried out to forestall worker fatigue, together with the event and implementation of fatigue administration packages required as a part of FRA’s Danger Discount Program (RRP) rule;
• Present standing of the hazard and threat evaluation required by the RRP rule.

Info collected by the supplemental security evaluation will exceed the scope of current FRA audits, offering a extra expansive have a look at Norfolk Southern’s total security tradition and operations. The data gathered will likely be used to focus on particular areas for FRA’s oversight and enforcement efforts and assist determine dangers past the attain of present federal laws. Lastly, FRA will use the knowledge collected to push the Norfolk Southern to develop measures to mitigate dangers whereas figuring out acceptable enforcement actions.

FRA will subject a public report on its findings.

Concurrently, the U.S. Division of Transportation is asking on Norfolk Southern to have interaction its workers and administration round security so as to defend staff and communities following Norfolk Southern incidents in Reed, PA, Bessemer, AL, Sandusky, OH, East Palestine, OH, Springfield, OH, and Cleveland, OH. Restoring public confidence, particularly within the communities wherein Norfolk Southern operates, requires motion past the six-point security plan launched on March 6. Given current occasions, Norfolk Southern and all main freight railroads should be taking fast steps to prioritize security coaching and tradition together with operational actions that match the severity of current incidents. Norfolk Southern should prioritize the protection and well-being of its staff in addition to the thousands and thousands of people dwelling close to routes on which they function.

Learn extra about USDOT’s current actions to enhance freight rail security and accountability right here.

Background:

Investigators from DOT’s FRA and PHMSA had been on the bottom inside hours of the Norfolk Southern prepare derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2023. The companies are supporting the investigation being led by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, an unbiased company. For extra on the federal response and jurisdiction, see right here.

To get the most recent data on the investigation, please go to NTSB’s web site.

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