The CSB promulgated its Accidental Release Reporting Rule to help the CSB decide when to initiate an investigation into an accidental release, including whether to deploy a team of investigators to the site to do “all things necessary and proper” to initiate an investigation and obtain critical information about the incident. Upon arriving at the site of an accidental release, CSB investigators, on...

 

This post contains a series of questions, that members of an organization might use – from the boardroom to the shop floor – to help them consider their personal contributions to safety culture. The questions are not intended to be exhaustive. We encourage operating organizations to use these questions as a basis for discussion and to consider developing them further as “prompts”...

In this post, I am using two recognized and widely used models to assess the “culture” of a facility.  To be honest, as far as I know, these two models were never intended to be used next to each other.  But the fit is amazing.  I am calling these: Path of Progress and Path of Decline If we take these two models and set them beside each other, one is a path of progress,...

The best birthday present a process safety engineer could ask for; especially on a birthday when a client is dealing with a tragedy.  OSHA has “officially” announced the potential changes to the scope of the current PSM standard it is considering: … HomeRead More »

As my year comes to a close on the railroad, I recently has a discussion with a senior manager about ALARP, a new acronym for the RR.  The manager wanted to know more about using the Hierarchy of Controls to reduce risks; more specifically, how we would reduce the SEVERITY of the consequence of an event.  So I used the scenario of… … HomeRead More »

The process of planning and controlling work activities is implemented to maintain safety. Work management is a deliberate process in which work is identified, selected, planned, scheduled, executed, closed, and critiqued.  The entire organization is involved in and fully supports the process.   Attributes:   Work Management: The organization implements a process of planning, controlling,...

A Safety-Conscious Work Environment (SCWE) is maintained where personnel feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or discrimination. The Service Unit creates, maintains, and evaluates policies and processes that allow personnel to raise concerns freely.   Attributes: SCWE Policy: The organization effectively implements a policy that supports individuals’...

Issues potentially impacting safety are promptly identified, fully evaluated, and promptly addressed and corrected commensurate with their significance. Identifying and resolving a broad spectrum of problems, including organizational issues, strengthens safety and improves performance.   Attributes:   Identification: The organization implements a corrective action program with a low threshold...

Opportunities to learn about ways to ensure safety are sought out and implemented. Operating experience is highly valued, and the capacity to learn from experience is well developed. Training, self-assessments, and benchmarking are used to stimulate learning and improve performance.  Safety is constantly scrutinized through various monitoring techniques, some of which provide an independent...

Trust and respect permeate the organization. A high level of trust is established in the organization, fostered partly through timely and accurate communication. Differing opinions are encouraged, discussed, and resolved promptly and professionally. Employees are informed of the steps taken in response to their concerns.   Attributes:   Respect is Evident: Everyone is treated with dignity...

Decisions that support or affect safety are systematic, rigorous, and thorough. Crews are vested with the authority and understand the expectation to place the train in a safe condition when faced with unexpected or uncertain conditions. Senior leaders support and reinforce safety conservative decisions.   Attributes:   Consistent Process: Individuals use a consistent, systematic approach...