Transcript ASLRRA Short Line Safety Institute

ASLRRA
Short Line Safety Institute
Mission: Enhance safety culture and safety compliance
of short line and regional railroads through voluntary,
non-punitive partnerships.
Presentation to
AASHTO Standing Committee On
Rail Transportation
September 8, 2014
Short Line Safety Institute
Background
• ASLRRA Chairman McKechnie announces a new focus on safety culture at 100th
ASLRRA Annual Meeting
4/2013
• Secretary Foxx asks ASLRRA for ideas for enhancing safe operations on short line
and regional railroads
1/2014
• ASLRRA President Timmons responds with proposal for a Short Line Safety
Institute and corresponding pilot project
2/2014
• ASLRRA begins collaborating with FRA R&D: FRA Research Results paper, and
research and evaluation mechanisms to implement Short Line Safety Institute
2/2014
8/2014 • FRA announces a $250K grant for ASLRRA, $100K for UCONN, and $100K for
Volpe to begin work
2
Short Line Safety Institute
Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals
• Vision: for the short line and regional railroad
industry to be recognized as one of the safest in
the world
• Mission: to enhance safety culture and safety
compliance of short line and regional railroads
through voluntary, non-punitive partnerships
• Strategic Goals:
 to enhance and improve safety practices
 to increase the short line and regional
railroad industry’s culture of commitment
to safety
Why Now? Our Railroads – Our
Destiny
• Rather than the government telling us how to
conduct safe operations – we need to lead
• It is time to take control of our own destiny
• We must show we are the world class leader in
safety performance
• Taking the initiative will be critical to our success
in the upcoming Congressional debate
4
Pilot Project Launch
Communication Process
Safety
• Pre-Launch Planning with
Assessment
Management Team
Team
Management • Expectation setting and
Team
planning with employees
SAT +
Organization
Stakeholders
• Run pilot with candor
and commitment
Short Line Safety Institute
Project Timeline
Mission: Enhance safety culture and safety compliance of short line and regional
railroads through voluntary, non-punitive partnerships.
• Pilot:
Sample of RRs
hauling crude
Jan–June
2015
June 2015–
Jan 2016
• Expansion:
Additional RRs
hauling crude
• Roll-out: RRs
handling other
hazardous
materials
Post-Jan
2016
Ongoing Implementation and Impact Evaluation
7
Short Line Safety Institute Development Team
Team
Lead(s)
Keith Borman, J.D.
Counsel
Program Development
Stakeholder Engagement
Mike Ogborn, J.D.
Team Leader Program Development
Stakeholder Engagement
Liaison With ASLRRA
ASLRRA
Jo Strang, M.S.
Program Development Subject Matter Expert
Stakeholder Engagement
Tom Streicher
Program Development. Subject Matter Expert
Stakeholder Engagement
Michael Coplen, M.A.
FRA R&D
Volpe
UCONN
Role
Industrial/Organizational Development
Behavioral and Safety Culture Change
Program Evaluation
Starr Kidda, Ph.D.
Job Analysis
Grants Management
Project Evaluation
Nicole Boyko, M.A.
Safety Culture Measurement
Stakeholder Engagement
Juna Snow, Ph.D.
Janet Barnes-Farrell,
Ph.D.
Program Evaluation
Educational Evaluation
Safety Culture Measurement
Job Analysis
8
Implementation of the Pilot Project
• Assemble the data and analyze to determine elements to
communicate back to railroad
• Provide senior management with verbal report on
findings and observations
• Meet with senior management and their designees in
working session to determine next steps
• Meeting with employees as appropriate
• After the visit, provide senior management with written
report on findings and observations
• Work with senior management on implementation plan
American Short Line and Regional Railroad
Association
9
Assessment and Transition
• ASLRRA and R&D will assess the effectiveness of the Pilot
Project and make adjustments as needed to ensure
achievement of the goals set forth above
• The goal - create a Short Line Safety Institute dedicated to
enhancing a strong and enduring safety culture
• Pilot Project will transition to a permanent expanded
program to include an increasing number of short line
assessments
• Over time the Institute will not only direct and manage field
initiatives but will become an educational source for short
lines
• The Institute will also develop a data analysis capability for
better assessments and a greater understanding of the Short
Line industry
American Short Line and Regional Railroad
Association
10
Short Line Safety Institute


The Institute will heighten the intensity of
the safety focus and involvement of short
line and regional railroads and their
management
The goal of the Institute is to facilitate a
strong safety culture in all short line and
regional railroads
American Short Line and Regional Railroad
Association
11