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Kansas City Southern's safety steering committee members recently met in Shreveport, La., to review the railroad's first-quarter performance in preventing personal injuries, derailments and crossing collisions.

Members determined KCS' safety performance "was not exceptional" during the quarter, but that the committee has the right plans in place to increase front-line supervisors' accountability, according to a prepared statement.

Comprising senior-level managers from transportation, engineering, mechanical, field operations, training, maintenance of way, purchasing and other key departments, the committee — formed in January — is charged with developing an annual operating plan to ensure safe operations, providing funding and resources to help execute the plan, establishing and reviewing measures and goals, and adjusting the safety plan as necessary.

The committee also approved the formation of two subcommittees. A health and environment subcommittee comprising representatives from legal, claims, human resources, environmental quality, medical and operating departments will address such issues as hearing conservation, ergonomics, defibrillators, smoking and regulatory compliance.

A safety equipment and tools subcommittee comprising representatives from the operating, mechanical, engineering and purchasing departments will focus on procuring better quality, standardized safety equipment and tools, implementing a new safety boot program and reviewing prescription eyewear sources.