Norfolk Southern Commits to Enhance Worker Health at East Palestine, Ohio, Derailment Site
Norfolk Southern Co. has reached a settlement with federal regulators and its unionized workforce to address concerns about worker health during track rebuilding and cleanup operations near the site of a hazardous train derailment near East Palestine, Ohio. The derailment, which occurred in February, involved a pile-up of 49 railcars, including 11 tank cars carrying hazardous chemicals that ignited and burned for days. The settlement follows allegations that the company's workers lacked proper training and protective gear, resulting in chemical spills that impacted the environment and affected investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As part of the agreement, Norfolk Southern will implement a medical surveillance program, provide hazardous waste training to employees, create a training program based on lessons learned from the incident, and pay penalties for safety violations identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The settlement is particularly noteworthy considering Norfolk Southern's extensive operations, encompassing about 19,300 route miles across 22 states and the District of Columbia. The company serves major container ports in the eastern United States and is a significant transporter of various industrial products, including agriculture, consumer goods, chemicals, metals, construction materials, and auto products. The agreement aims to enhance safety and health controls for employees engaged in emergency response activities, ensuring better preparedness for similar incidents in the future.
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