Winter Freeze

Are you up for the challenge?

In the month of December, our team submitted 184 near misses and safety suggestions. Winter FREEZE runs through March 31!

The Watco safety team has selected he first seven Following Rules Every Day Ensures Zero Errors (FREEZE) safety award winners. Thanks to all of these team members for recognizing these hazards and taking preventative action before they became incidents. Team members who identified a hazard or concern and followed up to correct or highlight the issue are being rewarded with a $200 safety bonus.

Name: Robert Cronch, operator

Location: Chicago Heights Transload Terminal (IL)

Safety Suggestion/Near Miss: Cronch noticed there wasn’t a drying agent hanging inside a sea container to prevent moisture contamination. He inspected the product and found moisture between the outer protective layer and the super sack.

Solution: The customer was notified and they worked with the shipper to take action to avoid costly damage to the product and prevent future shipment contaminations.

Name: Adam Christman, conductor

Location: Bayway Dedicated Terminal (NJ)

Safety Suggestion/ Near Miss: While switching in-plant, Christman identified a vehicle fouling the tracks.

Solution: The train was stopped to prevent a collision. The team then worked with the plant to put measures in place to prevent close-clearance and impact issues that could be hazardous to our crew, customers, and team members.

Name: Milton Gray, railcar repair mechanic

Location: Coffeyville Repair and Maintenance Terminal (KS)

Safety Suggestion/Near Miss: During his pre-use inspection, Wright identified a hand grinder safety switch was not working correctly.

Name: Tristan Bellows, railcar repair mechanic

Location: Omaha Repair and Maintenance Terminal (NE)

Safety Suggestion/Near Miss: Bellows identified catwalk chains that were becoming unusable or rigid from paint overspray, creating a danger to the team.

Solution: The chains have been replaced to prevent future hazards.

Name: Andy Bennett, switch operator man Gabriel Martinez, conductor

Location: Wallulla Switching

Safety Suggestion/Near Miss: Bennett and Martinez were switching a customer and engaged a lockout to prevent a machine from operating while they were working on that track. They noticed the lockout wasn’t working correctly and discovered a plant worker had flipped the lockout from railroad position to operating position, causing a hazard to the crew.

Solution: This issue has been corrected by an administrative control, pending arrival of a new switch that will be lockable.

Name: Zachary Champagne, track laborer

Location: Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (IL and IN)

Safety Suggestion/Near Miss: Champagne identified a rail saw trigger that was not disengaging when released, creating a hazard.

Solution: The saw was immediately removed from service and tagged, preventing anyone else from encountering the hazard.

Senior Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety Travis Herod said, “We have a lot of great people, with great ideas, experience, and knowledge. Please continue to send in your near misses and safety suggestions. Let’s continue to learn, both from our mistakes, and our experience, to move through this Winter FREEZE period safely!”