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RailAmerica Inc.’s Robert Jones has attained the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) highest individual safety honor. The association recently named the vice president of RailAmerica's West Region the 2008 "Safety Person of the Year."

ASLRRA recognized Jones for his “tireless dedication to safety and innovative leadership, not only in his region, but across all of RailAmerica,” according to a prepared statement. Last year, all eight railroads in his region were injury-free.

In addition, as head of RailAmerica's Cross-Regional Safety Team, Jones led the company to its safest-ever year in 2008, when the company posted a record 1.64 FRA frequency index (injuries per 200,000 manhours), representing a 35 percent year-over-year improvement.

In 2007, Jones customized a safety program based on David Sarkus’ book "The Safety Coach: Unleash the 7Cs for World-Class Safety Performance.” Jones ingrained the 7Cs — caring, coaching, correcting, confirming, collaborating, clarifying and conciliating — into the region's safety culture and helped implement the book’s concepts at all RailAmerica properties, ASLRRA said.

"Due to Bob's leadership and vision, we have established an affirmative safety culture throughout RailAmerica that emphasizes positive reinforcement and compassion for the individuals who work at our railroads," said RailAmerica Chief Executive Officer John Giles.

ASLRRA will recognize Jones on April 27 at the association’s annual convention in Las Vegas.

To learn more about RailAmerica’s safety — and operational — turnaround, look for Progressive Railroading’s April issue early next month.