The FRA report is a shining example of how a CEO can impact the culture within an organization. CEO Joe Hinrich has made a huge impact at CSX in all aspects, but what he’s done for safety sets him apart. For the FRA to call his work out in their Cultural Assessment is unique across the six Class 1 railroads. Hell one of the railroads got their assessment canceled because of suspected management fowlplay and attempting to influence the FRA Assessment.
This report documents the results of the 60-day safety culture assessment of CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) conducted by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The CSX safety culture assessment (assessment) occurred between January 22 and March 22, 2024. Since this report only covers results found during the 60-day assessment, it does not address any follow-up activities or corrective actions by CSX. FRA will monitor CSX’s progress on the recommendations1 made in this report.
FRA has had longstanding engagement in efforts to improve railroad safety culture by developing voluntary programs like the Confidential Close Call Reporting System and peer-to-peer coaching programs, as well as by issuing regulations that require railroads to measure and improve their safety cultures. Additionally, FRA has included an assessment of safety culture as part of its comprehensive railroad safety audits. Following a catastrophic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2023, FRA conducted an assessment of Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) between March 15 and May 15, 2023, and conducted a similar assessment on BNSF Railway (BNSF) between October 10 and December 8, 2023. To gain insight into common safety culture issues and to identify best practices for the railroad industry, FRA plans to perform assessments consecutively until all Class I freight railroads are assessed. FRA expects to complete this task in calendar year 2025.2 FRA’s assessment of CSX is the third Class I freight railroad assessment to be completed.
FRA conducted this assessment in three parts:
1) a safety culture review, including structured field interviews of CSX’s craft employees conducted primarily by FRA inspectors, as well as semi-structured interviews (fixed questions with open-ended responses) conducted by FRA staff of CSX’s leadership, management, and union officials;
2) focused inspections and investigations designed to evaluate safety-critical elements of CSX’s operations; and
3) an evaluation of CSX’s responses to prior FRA safety recommendations.
