All,
I figured we needed to clear the air a bit here and get to the basics. Yes the C&TS had said washout plug incident May 2020. Similar incidents have happened at least four other times in recent memory. What is the key issue here? Lack of safety culture. What does this mean? There are several definitions that get to the crux of the matter, but I think several specifics are indicative of a proper safety culture. First is everyone understands how they are made safe in any given situation. Not just told it will be ok so don’t worry about it. Second, anyone regardless of standing can raise a question and it be treated with respect and careful review. Often hierarchy, seniority and social shaming causes group think and eliminates discourse which can foster an unsafe environment. Third, a closing ranks mentality creates silos instead of transparent social units that are able to learn and gain insight from the experiences of others. These are just a few thoughts on the matter of course, but highlight a few issues that I find particularly important. The incident last year was a wake up call for our institution, and we must continue to use this tragedy to learn and better ourselves. Being on the board of Heritage Rail Alliance, we were able to start an industry wide conversation on safety in the industry as a whole which continues to be fruitful. In order to be sure the lessons find fullest acceptance at C&TS we have focused on the mechanical department to build the team, create system wide procedures and policies, and train in order to address issues we have identified. This will be an ongoing process but is necessary. On a previous thread someone noted all the engines were not repainted for opening day. The reason was a number of conditions discovered over the course of the off season required correction. These were effectively dealt with but took a great deal of additional time in order to be made safe. I am very proud of the seriousness the team has shown for this new direction.
Best
Stathi
