SLSI issues analysis of short lines' safety culture improvements, opportunities

 The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) yesterday released its annual Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) research results paper analyzing 20 safety culture assessments (SCA) on short line, regional, historic, tourist, commuter and passenger railroads in 2024.

The analysis, which can be read here, reports five areas of safety culture strength across the industry and five areas that could improve, SLSI officials said in a press release. SLSI found the following areas of strength:

• Railroads are providing personal protective equipment to employees as needed;
• Employees feel comfortable communicating safety concerns;
• Employees feel empowered to work safely;
• Employees at all levels take personal responsibility for themselves, their coworkers and the public; and
• Managers and supervisors are modeling safe behaviors.

Opportunities for improvement include the following:
• More railroads could create, make improvements to or better communicate a safety action plan;
• Some railroads could improve safety reporting and tracking systems;
• The maintenance and organization of some railroad properties could be improved;
• Railroads could express more recognition and reinforcement in the field for employees working safely; and
• Employees could receive better feedback during operational testing.

SLSI professionals conduct the safety culture assessments at the railroads' locations. The process combines employee surveys, employee interviews, safety document reviews and field observations, SLSI officials said.

Railroad management receive evaluations of their railroad's performance, as well as resources for improvement. SCAs are voluntary and free of charge to participating railroads.