UP honors 63 shippers' chemical safety efforts

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced that 63 chemical shippers will receive Pinnacle Awards this year because of their safety efforts.

Introduced in 1996, the award recognizes UP customers that implemented successful prevention and corrective plans, and registered no non-accidental releases (NARs) of regulated hazardous materials shipments in a given year. Award criteria include safe-loading techniques, shipment securement and the prevention of NARs, or leaks, splashes and other releases from improperly secured or defective valves, fittings, safety relief devices and tank shells.

"We work closely with our customers, sharing best practices to ensure these goods are moved as safely as possible," said Beth Whited, UP's vice president and general manager-chemicals, in a press release. "Our Pinnacle Award recipients demonstrate every day their commitment to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars, and we acknowledge their dedication to safety."

Hazardous material NARs in tank cars declined more than 13 percent on the Class I's network from 2004 to 2012 in part because of increased inspections by the railroad's haz-mat safety field personnel and customers' adherence to award criteria, UP officials said.