The NTSB issued their final report on the Norfolk Southern Railway derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The 201page report contains 37 NEW findings and 35 NEW recommendations.
I like to look for quick wins and the NTSB provides several. Finding number 6 states that “the vulnerability of tank car placards to fire exposure resulted in illegible placards and hampered emergency responders’ efforts to identify hazards.”
I was surprised and not surprised by this one.
I’m not surprised that damaged markings impeded first responders from immediately understanding the contents of the rail cars in the derailment. It’s not a surprise that diamond shaped signs affixed to the cars would be damaged. These placards have been around for a while. They are helpful for leaks, but not so helpful when a car is scorched.
The NTSB is recommending that these placards be able to “survive fires and accidents and remain legible during such emergencies long enough to fulfill their functions as described in the Emergency Response Guidebook.”
Why am I surprised?
In aviation, it is difficult to change anything on an aircraft. Everything installed in the interior needs certification. Title 14, Section 25.853 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that interior components, including signage, must meet certain flammability and fire resistance criteria.
What did the airlines know that the railroads didn’t?
The answer is simple. That in an emergency, safety critical signs need to last long enough to help with an emergency response. These came about from prior incidents. Airlines now have this embedded in regulations. A lesson learned. It’s also an opportunity for rail and other industries.
Could this recommendation apply to trucking, too? What about shipping? Should this apply to bulk storage and refrigeration equipment in factories?
Lessons continue to be identified. It’s just so darn hard to LEARN from them. This is true within industry. It’s especially true across industry. Our litigious society creates roadblocks to stop us from sharing. We need to overcome these barriers and we need to connect the dots across industry better.
The NTSB just gave multiple industries a gift… a lesson on how to improve emergency response. Let’s hope we learn from this and connect some dots.
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Photo by the author.
SafetyAnd Consulting Associates, Inc.
National Safety Council
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