Current:Home > InvestRailroad BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Railroad BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
View Date:2024-12-23 19:38:48
Freight railroad BNSF is generally striving to improve safety on a consistent basis, but that message doesn’t always reach front-line workers who often don’t feel comfortable reporting safety concerns for fear of being disciplined, according to an assessment released Wednesday by regulators.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s review of BNSF’s safety culture also found that the company continues to be held back by some of the same issues that have been common across the industry for years.
This new report is the second one the agency has completed to address railroad safety concerns following the disastrous February 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as it works to review all the major railroads.
The BNSF review is more positive than last summer’s Norfolk Southern report, which said executives at that railroad were too often satisfied with only doing the minimum for safety.
The FRA found that company leaders consistently stressed safety as a core value, but at the lower levels of the railroad, some managers still prioritize keeping the trains moving ahead of safety.
“Changes in messaging create doubt among front-line craft employees as to the true goals, priorities and commitments of the railroad,” the agency said in the report.
Regulators also reiterated their recommendation for BNSF and all the major freight railroads to sign on to the confidential federal safety reporting hotline for workers to report concerns without fear of being punished.
BNSF earned praise for launching a pilot program with that hotline for its dispatchers earlier this year, but the FRA said it needs to be available to all rail workers. The industry has a long history of retaliating against workers who report too many safety concerns, because those issues slow down the trains while repairs are made.
All the major railroads promised to join that federal reporting system after East Palestine, but so far only BNSF and Norfolk Southern have announced limited pilot programs.
“Effective reporting systems improve safety by reducing risks and allow for changes and repairs to be made so safety incidents do not recur,” according to the report.
BNSF didn’t immediately comment on the report after its public release early Wednesday.
BNSF is one of the nation’s largest railroads, with tracks crossing the Western United States. It is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate of Omaha, Nebraska.
veryGood! (21834)
Related
- Ryan Reynolds Clarifies Taylor Swift’s Role as Godmother to His Kids With Blake Lively
- Bears signing Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles' husband, to 2-year deal: 'Chicago here he comes'
- US energy industry methane emissions are triple what government thinks, study finds
- TEA Business College’s Mission and Achievements
- Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
- Charlotte the stingray: Ultrasound released, drink created in her honor as fans await birth
- Warriors star Steph Curry says he's open to a political career after basketball
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise after Wall Street’s record rally
- Oklahoma school district adding anti-harassment policies after nonbinary teen’s death
- ACC mascots get blessed at Washington National Cathedral in hilarious video
Ranking
- OneTaste Founder Nicole Daedone Speaks Out on Sex Cult Allegations Against Orgasmic Meditation Company
- House Democrats try to force floor vote on foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan
- 'Heartbreaking': 3 eggs of beloved bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow unlikely to hatch
- Can women and foreigners help drive a ramen renaissance to keep Japan's noodle shops on the boil?
- Does the NFL have a special teams bias when hiring head coaches? History indicates it does
- Wisconsin Supreme Court will reconsider ruling limiting absentee ballot drop boxes
- Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson lead CMT Music Awards noms
- Missing Washington state woman found dead in Mexico; man described as suspect arrested
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé nominated for album of the year at Grammys — again. Will she finally win?
-
Mass kidnappings from Nigeria schools show the state does not have control, one expert says
-
‘The Fall Guy,’ a love letter to stunt performers, premieres at SXSW
-
Neil Young returns to Spotify after 2-year hiatus following Joe Rogan controversy
-
Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira set to be sentenced, could get up to 17 years in prison
-
The 10 Best Places to Buy Spring Wedding Guest Dresses Both Online & In-Store
-
How Jordan Peele gave Dev Patel his 'Pretty Woman' moment with struggling 'Monkey Man'
-
Horoscopes Today, March 12, 2024