RAC honors VIA Rail, ArcelorMittal for safety, environmental efforts

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) last week announced VIA Rail Canada Inc. and short-line operator ArcelorMittal Infrastructure Canada are the winners of the association's 2017 Safety and Environment Awards.

The awards recognize RAC members for outstanding contributions to rail safety and environmental stewardship, RAC officials said in a press release.

VIA Rail won in the Class I category for its locomotive engineer tablet project, which enabled employees to access mandatory operating documents electronically using iPads.

The initiative reduced the risk of workplace injury related to handling heavy paper rule books and instructions while on duty. The project also enhanced safety by increasing employee engagement among locomotive engineers, supervisors and senior management of VIA Rail's transportation group.

In addition, VIA Rail received RAC's Environmental Award for the railroad's fuel consumption strategy, which recently incorporated an index that enables railroad officials to measure wirelessly transmitted locomotive performance data and analyze this information to improve fuel economy.

In the non-Class I category, ArcelorMittal was honored with the RAC Safety Award for the company's Courageous Leadership in Action program, which aims to improve the safety culture across all areas of its business by recognizing employees' efforts in reducing risk.

The awards were presented Oct. 24 at RAC's 100th anniversary celebration in Ottawa. As part of the event, Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau acknowledged the award recipients and congratulated RAC on its anniversary.

"The government of Canada continues to support a modernized transportation system that is safer, greener, more reliable and efficient for both travel and trade," Garneau said.