OPRRMS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> theconductor Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >snip<
>
> > And who cares what the UP's motivation is
> behind
> > safety? They care about it and take it quite
> > seriously. That's all that should matter to us
> > employees.
>
> We should all care about safety. And if UP's
> motives were actually to inhance safety, that
> would be wonderful. But they not. It's all about
> risk management. Every time I engage a low-level
> manager in a conversation about anything involving
> specific, tangible safety issues, he or she tries
> to either deflect the topic or will walk away.

But does it matter if the UP enhances safety because of risk management? Does the reason matter?
>
> Ah, yes. The amazing green vests. First UP
> decided that new T&Y hires needed to wear them to
> identify them as someone needing extra
> supervision. Now everybody has to wear them. Any
> you know what? People are still getting injured.
> So, whether or not one wears a green vest doesn't
> increase safety, but it will help the railroad's
> lawyers defend the company in court if you file an
> injury-related lawsuit. It's also an avenue for
> managers to "test" employees and issue discipline.

Of course it's not going to prevent all injuries, but if it stops just one isn't it worth it? Are you going to tell me that not one persons life of limb has been spared because of better visibility? I have seen a carmen run over a trainman in broad daylight. You can't tell me that not once a conductor or carman or other employee has avoided being hit by a car on a dark yard road because the shiny reflective strip caught a drivers eyes. Likewise an engineer. Again, if just one person is saved it's worth it to me. I could be that person.

I have also spoken with quite a few engineers that have said that they appreciate the vest because of how much more visible it makes their conductors.
>
>
> Green vests, Red Zones, multi-page Job Briefing
> Books, weekly IDS messages, 105 (and counting)
> Superintendent Bulletins, 10 or more General
> Orders, Risk Assessment guides, and multiple
> safety slogans and posters, don't protect
> employees from getting injured or killed. But
> hiring employees that have the ability to follow
> directions and possess even a minimal amount of
> common sense, then training them in a logical and
> effective manner so they'll know what they need to
> do to keep from being injured or killed, and
> providing a safe environment in which to work,
> certainly would.

I agree with you that a lot of the above mentioned things are redundant. I personally hate the job briefing books, but if the company wants me to spend my paid time filling one out and reading countless new bulletins then what do I care? They pay me, they can use my time however they want. I'm going home in 12 regardless!

I also agree that hiring people with common sense would go a long ways for all or our safety. Unfortunately the union helps squash any of that. If a competitive work place were promoted by the union and not one based on seniority (and often laziness) everyone would benefit. The railroad would get more output per man hour, the unions would spend less time defending people and the employees would have a safer work place. All that will never happen though.

Anyway, I'm now taking this thread even further off track so I will stop ranting. Thank you all for your good points.