FRA calls for safety culture improvements at BNSF

The Federal Railroad Administration this week released the results of its 60-day examination of the safety culture at BNSF Railway Co.

The report documents the results of the agency's assessment, conducted between October and December 2023, of the Class I's safety practices and culture. The 150-page report features findings only from that 60-day period, and does not include actions the railroad has taken to address the FRA's recommendations for improvement. The agency continues to monitor BNSF's progress on those recommendations, the report states.

FRA plans to assess the safety culture of all Class Is' by the end of 2024. BNSF was the second to be assessed; the first was Norfolk Southern Railway.

FRA measures a railroad's safety culture based on 10 elements, such as: leadership is clearly committed to safety; the railroad practices continuous learning; there's a safety-conscious environment; employees feel personally responsible for safety; the railroad responds to safety concerns fairly and consistently; and safety efforts are supported by training and resources.

In BNSF's case, the FRA's overall findings indicate the railroad's safety culture "is generally moving from the involving level of safety culture maturity to the cooperating level," agency officials wrote.

"FRA found several examples of practices implemented by BNSF to keep its safety culture moving towards a more mature and robust safety culture, with a focus on continually improving," the report states. "Underscoring this commitment was a consistent finding that BNSF leadership cite safety as a core value of the organization."

For each finding, the FRA made recommendations for improvement. To read the FRA's full report, click here.