WASHINGTON – May 29, 2020 – The Safety Culture Assessment (SCA) ‘process and follow up support hold promise for strengthening railroad safety culture’, states a study released by the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Research, Development and Technology (FRA RD&T). Over a two-year period, participating railroads showed improvements in six of 10 Core Elements of Strong Safety Culture, resulting in overall improvement of safety culture on the railroad.

“Safety is at the forefront of every decision made on a short line railroad. Our Assessment program has proven successful at identifying opportunities to improve safety culture, and specific methods to reduce risk,” says Tom Murta, Executive Director, Short Line Safety Institute. “Through the follow-up Assessment program, railroads have shown that they can move the dial in a positive direction through the implementation of best practices identified during their initial Assessment.”

In the study, initial and follow up SCA reports were analyzed. Framed around the Ten Core Elements of a Strong Safety Culture, the study evaluated the results of actions taken by the subject railroads in the two-year period since the initial SCA, and the impact of those actions on the railroad’s safety culture.