The Nationwide Transportation Security Board stated on Sunday that Norfolk Southern’s proposed security objectives are “not strong sufficient,” after the railroad large skilled a number of latest accidents that embrace the derailment of a prepare carrying poisonous chemical compounds in rural Ohio.
Norfolk Southern’s CEO, Alan Shaw, testified earlier than the Senate on Thursday – over a month after one of many firm’s trains carrying 20 vehicles value of hazardous materials derailed within the small Ohio city of East Palestine, making a fiery catastrophe that threatens residents’ well being and security.
The corporate has additionally come underneath scrutiny after one other of its freight trains derailed earlier this month close to Springfield, Ohio. Final Tuesday, Norfolk Southern stated one in every of its conductors was killed in Cleveland, Ohio, when he was “struck by a dump truck as a Norfolk Southern prepare was transferring by means of a crossing” at a metal facility.
Shaw promised senators on Thursday that Norfolk Southern will clear the East Palestine website “safely, completely and with urgency.” He additionally stated he's dedicated to bettering the corporate’s tradition of security, however refused to pledge to a number of safety-specific actions lawmakers offered to him.
On Sunday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that Shaw’s try and set security objectives are less than the board’s customary.
“They don't seem to be strong sufficient,” she instructed ABC’s “This Week.” “I believe we’ll be taking a look at extra suggestions as a part of our investigation.”
The NTSB, which probes transportation accidents, launched a particular investigation final week into Norfolk Southern to look into what it says is the corporate’s “group and security tradition.” The board stated that the East Palestine derailment occurred attributable to an overheated wheel bearing.
Along with the railroad firm’s latest accidents, the board stated it's also probing three extra Norfolk Southern incidents ― two fatalities in 2021 and 2022 respectively, in addition to a prepare derailment final yr in Sandusky, Ohio.
Homendy stated that the NTSB this week might be testing the valves liable for releasing strain of the 5 vinyl chloride vehicles within the prepare that derailed in East Palestine. The prepare was transporting a whole lot of hundreds of kilos of vinyl chloride, a chemical that has been linked to many sorts of most cancers.
“We’ll see what comes of that testing,” she stated. “We could have suggestions in direction of the top which can be a lot broader.”
Post a Comment