Unions and regulators warn against reducing rail security inspections
The railroad agreed to pay the fines until Aug. 31, federal officials said. Under the agreement, Norfolk Southern also agreed to create a medical surveillance program for personnel working at the derailment site and provide unionized staff with 40 hours of hazardous waste education. operations and emergency response, and create an education program on lessons learned from the derailment.
The 1. 8-mile exercise derailed on the night of Feb. 3, when 38 of 149 cars headed from Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania, derailed and an explosion occurred that sent flames into the air and a thick cloud of smoke across the landscape. Twenty of the derailed cars contained hazardous materials, in addition to vinyl chloride, a highly flammable carcinogen.
No one was injured in the incident, however, in the following days, citizens reported having rashes, sore throat, nausea and headaches, linking those symptoms to chemicals released after the exercise derailed.
The East Palestine Fire Chief told the NTSB audience that he had thirteen minutes to make a key decision.
The settlement announced Wednesday puts another highlight in Norfolk Southern’s safeguarding record, which has come under scrutiny as lawmakers and regulators try to cope with public considerations about derailments and the transportation of hazardous materials. Labor officials say the agreement will ensure certain protective protocols are followed. at the Ohio site, as well as long-term incidents.
“This agreement will provide protection and fitness checks to Norfolk Southern workers who responded and help teach rail operator workers the lessons learned so they are prepared for any other emergencies that arise,” said Howard Eberts, director of OSHA’s Cleveland office. a report.
Norfolk Southern spokesman Connor Spielmaker said the railroad cooperated with the federal hard-working investigation, largely with OSHA and the Brotherhood of Track Maintenance Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED).
“The fitness and protection of our workers is paramount,” he said. “We have come up with a solution that provides more education to our staff, exceeds OSHA requirements, and makes our interventions even safer. “
Union leaders said Wednesday they welcome OSHA’s agreement and resolution to investigate operating situations at the railroad and take steps to hold the railroad accountable. BMW spokesman Clark Ballew said the union is encouraged to know that the federal government will remain concerned about workers’ medical tests. The union has more than 3,200 members in Norfolk Southern, and about two dozen joined when the derailment occurred.
“It was Norfolk Southern’s resolution and the only one to send our members to paint on this poisonous site just days after the derailment. If this resolution continues to be valid for years to come, it will not be a Norfolk Southern physician who will take care of the role the corporate has played in the headaches that may arise,” he said.
On Tuesday, Norfolk Southern announced it had purchased assets for a permanent office in eastern Palestine, while continuing to work with the networked paintings in remediation efforts. Earlier this month, the company celebrated the sixth month since the derailment by committing $500,000 to the village’s economic development. .
The latest: Norfolk Southern has agreed to protect cleaners at the Ohio derailment site. The Justice Department is also suing Norfolk Southern over the derailment of a poisonous train. The senators asked Norfolk Southern’s chief executive about its record of rail protection as Ohio sues the transportation company.
What are the health hazards associated with chemical spills?After the derailment, a poisonous gas, vinyl chloride, was burned, sending toxins and chemicals into the air. EPA manages crisis response.
Politics: Amid a partisan divide over the response to the crisis, former President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the site of the derailment.
Who cares? Biden’s leadership is being criticized for not doing enough to help, while Ohioans are after Norfolk Southern pulled out of a city corridor to respond to the response. The derailment also killed more than 43,000 aquatic animals in the area. Here’s what you want to know about the poisonous cloud of derailment.