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Burlington Northern Santa Fe Sept. 26 named Dr. Thomas Pace assistant vice president, medical, environmental and health (MEH) to oversee the railroad’s MEH team that's responsible for preventing injuries and illnesses, and managing medical services.


MEH also develops programs designed to promote to employees a safe, productive and healthy lifestyle at work or home, and pursues partnerships with health care providers in various communities.


Pace most recently served as divisional director, health and medical services for Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems (a division of Delphi Corp.), where he oversaw medical /occupational health services for 40,000 employees in 16 countries, and managed a global medical staff of 80.


"He has a strong record of establishing a more responsive and progressive medical services function in the business," said Gloria Zamora, BNSF vice president of human resources, in a prepared statement, adding that Pace also will introduce best practices to the MEH team.


Health issues have been a past concern for BNSF, which in May reached a $2.2 million mediated settlement with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity. The federal agency alleged that BNSF violated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by genetically testing or seeking to test 36 employees (without their knowledge or consent) for a disposition toward carpal tunnel syndrome.


Under settlement terms, BNSF agreed to provide enhanced ADA training to medical and claims personnel, have senior management review all significant medical policies and not use genetic tests in the future as part of required employee medical examinations.


In early 2001, BNSF required employees who filed claims or internal reports of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome against the railroad to submit to the genetic test as part of a comprehensive diagnostic medical examination.