Watco opens safety training center in Alabama

Watco Cos. recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new safety training center near Fairfield, Ala.

The Safety Through Awareness and Training (STAT) Center will host hundreds of Watco employees annually for standardized safety training, according to a post on the company's blog.

The new facility features classrooms, a functional model railroad, two Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Type II simulators, and an indoor components training area with a cutaway rail car, air brake simulator rack and hands-on tools for training operating and mechanical personnel.

Attending the ceremony were Watco Chief Executive Officer Rick Webb, Chief Operating Officer Dan Smith, Senior Vice President of Safety and Training Travis Herod, Vice President of Safety and Training Ron Martin, Senior Vice President of People Services Rachael Peterson, Senior Vice President of Operations Keith LaCaze, and Senior Vice President of Transportation Rules and Regulatory Compliance Gary Vaughn.

The new center will take Watco's training "to the next level, incorporating the same modern training technologies and tools that Class Is are using, equipping people better in the field to operate new equipment and to work more safely and efficiently," said Herod.

Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington and community guests also attended the ceremony.