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The latest tank-car safety course sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad attracted 24 emergency responders to the Association of American Railroad's Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) near Pueblo, Colo.

The recent five-day, 40-hour course covered various topics, such as how to identify tank-car types, fittings and tank-car construction during an emergency. Participants also received hands-on training in assessing tank-car damage, making repairs, controlling the release of hazardous materials from damaged cars, and using protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus.

As a final exam, attendees participated in three simulated haz-mat accidents to better understand how to work with a railroad during an emergency and work safely while on railroad property.

"Our tank-car safety programs are designed to provide the knowledge and skills local responders need to analyze an emergency and plan a response within their capabilities," said Charlie Wright, UP's manager of hazardous materials training, in a prepared statement.

Since 1986, UP has sponsored 41 five-day training programs at TTCI that were attended by more than 800 emergency response personnel and more than 150 UP response workers.