Norfolk Southern content with minimum safety too often, regulators say after fiery Ohio derailment

Norfolk Southern made improvements after one of its trains derailed, caught fire and spilled toxic chemicals near an Ohio town, but the company is nowhere near the "gold standard for safety" it is striving to be, according to federal regulators. Instead, the railroad is too often only willing to meet minimum safety requirements.

The Federal Railroad Administration released its 143-page report on the Atlanta-based railroad's safety culture Wednesday. The agency has been working on the report for months since thousands of people had to evacuate their homes after the East Palestine derailment.

Poor communication and mistrust between employees and managers are hindering Norfolk Southern's efforts to improve safety, the report also said. The agency questioned whether the company's training for employees and managers is adequate.

"At a time when so many people working on and living near train tracks are asking legitimate questions about how major freight railroads operate, railroads must have a culture and operations that are focused on safety," agency administrator Amit Bose said. "This first-of-its-kind assessment — conducted immediately after the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine — shows in too many instances the railroad should be doing more to ensure the safety people deserve."


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