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“You know, the Navy nuclear program is the gold standard in safety of all of industry,' said Shaw, who was impressed by the safety focus during his first professional job helping to install nuclear reactors in Navy ships.

Norfolk Southern has hired a nuclear power expert, Atkins Nuclear Secured, to advise on its safety culture. And Shaw knows “you judge me by the results,” but he’s convinced the railroad is “making a lot of progress.”Įven low-level managers now get bonuses for improving safety and service - not just for keeping the trains moving. Shaw said he has met with that union and is glad officials feel comfortable raising concerns. One significant change his locomotive mechanics have seen is the resumption of safety meetings at the start of shifts, Orwan said, but the railroad is so understaffed that it can't do some things managers talk about. Shaw comes across to me as kind of as that used car salesman trying really hard to sell Norfolk Southern and saying all this great stuff,' said James Orwan, a Machinist Union general chairman on Norfolk Southern. It doesn't think Shaw's pronouncements have translated into meaningful changes and worries new employees and those returning from furloughs might not have enough safety training. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union was the only of Norfolk Southern’s 13 unions that didn't sign a letter last month promising to cooperate to improve safety. But some other Federal Railroad Association measures have worsened, like the rates of total accidents and railyard accidents.Īn FRA report on Norfolk Southern’s safety culture is expected soon, and the National Transportation Safety Board continues to examine its safety practices as it investigates what caused the Ohio derailment. Shaw believes “we’re a safe railroad” because Norfolk Southern had its fewest derailments and injuries last year in more than a decade. Meanwhile, residents worry about potential long-term harm, though health officials insist the air and water are safe. The railroad has spent months removing contaminated water and soil, and the cleanup continues.

Several other industry derailments reinforced concerns.Įast Palestine highlights that even though freight railroads are regarded as the safest way to ship cargo over land, just one derailment can be disastrous. The railroad - and the entire industry - is under intense watch because chemicals spilled in the East Palestine derailment, and because thousands of people had to evacuate when officials blew open cars of vinyl chloride to burn it and prevent cars from exploding. And regulators and members of Congress say Norfolk Southern should be doing more than it has announced. In the interview, Shaw reiterated many of his same safety promises, and offered more details about his plans, but many critics remain skeptical because they haven't seen fundamental changes. “I need all 20,000 voices at Norfolk Southern pushing for safety. “That interaction and that engagement with our craft colleagues is really important to me,” Shaw said in an interview with The Associated Press at the railroad's Atlanta headquarters last week, a day before federal hearings on the East Palestine derailment began. He also has hailed work with unions to improve safety - something labor leaders say Norfolk Southern hasn’t done much of since it began overhauling operations in 2019. ATLANTA (AP) - Norfolk Southern's CEO has spoken often of safety and better service since he took the job over a year ago, but it's safety that has dominated discussions after one of his trains derailed and caught fire in February in Ohio, creating towering black smoke, forcing evacuations and raising environmental worries.Īlan Shaw has said his plans include adding more trackside detectors to help spot mechanical problems.

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