Safety
Safety at Tacoma Rail
Safety is our highest priority. We work to provide a safe environment for our employees, customers and the communities we serve.
Our goal is to operate without accidents or injuries. We work toward that goal by building a strong safety culture, providing the right training tools, and giving employees a role in identifying and addressing safety concerns.
We will achieve this vision through:
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We regularly review our safety practices and performance to find ways to improve.
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Every employee shares responsibility for their own safety, the safety of their coworkers, and the communities we serve.
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We provide employees with the tools and resources they need to work safely. We also work to identify hazards and correct them or safeguard against them.
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Employees receive training and follow safety and operating rules for the work they perform.
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Employees can identify safety concerns so that unsafe work practices can be addressed quickly. Rules, compliance, and training allow our employees to make safety essential to the tasks we perform.
Regulatory compliance
Tacoma Rail follows the safety regulations and requirements of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the Department of Transportation. These regulations cover the safety of railroad operations and rail employees throughout the country. In addition, we have our own safety and operating rules for employees and comply with the industry’s General Code of Operating Rules.
Safety recognition
Tacoma Rail is a member of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and has earned the Jake Safety Award six times. The ASLRRA-sponsored award is named after a longtime railroader, L.S. “Jake” Jacobson, the Copper Basin Railway president and CEO who created the award to recognize small railroads whose proven safety successes come from dedication and attention to detail.
Public safety outreach
Rail safety extends beyond our employees and operations. We work with Operation Lifesaver to help people understand how to stay safe around railroad tracks, trains and highway-rail crossings.
Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit rail safety education program focused on preventing collisions, injuries, and deaths at railroad crossings and along railroad rights-of-way.
We also support rail safety education in local schools to help students learn how to stay safe around trains and railroad property.