Members attending the SENSE District Coordinators' Workshop on Jan. 18, 1999. From left: Leon Stockwell, Randy Gilliam, Mark Dawkins, Randy Sanders, Mike Thomas, Mike Tanner, Stan Shadrix, Curtis Driggers, Alan Singletary, Dana Holsenback, Richard Taylor, Chuck Glaser, Chris Palmer, Don Miller, Steve Casto, and Dave Lavery. Not shown is Daniel Knorek.
(Editor's Note: This is the first of an on-going series of articles focusing on the BLE's SENSE Safety program that locomotive engineers implemented systemwide on CSXT.)
Having confronted unsafe conditions in the workplace during 1998, BLE SENSE members are now targeting much more elusive safety issues in 1999 -- actions and attitudes that impact safety.
During its first few months of existence, SENSE -- or Structured Employees Network for Safety Empowerment -- identified and eliminated physical safety obstacles such as overgrown brush striking locomotives and blocking signals, missing wayside signs and mileposts, unsafe walking conditions and other dangerous environmental situations.
But with over a thousand victories under their belts, SENSE members examined information they had collected and found that safety improvement on CSXT had reached a plateau -- and was headed in the wrong direction.
Data showed locomotive engineers demonstrated a high level of excellence regarding rules compliance, but the rate of train accidents and injuries were not improving.
"We learned that approximately 25 percent of preventable accidents were a result of environmental reasons," said Curtis Driggers, Regional SENSE Coordinator for CSXT-BLE Eastern Lines. "The other 75 percent were linked to actions many railroaders are not aware of taking place -- habits."
SENSE leaders used these findings when they convened their 1999 SENSE Safety Workstop to develop plans and pinpoint unsafe work habits, hoping to eventually increase the rate of safe behavior.
"In 1998, we gained support for safety by focusing primarily on unsafe conditions as an organized action," the 1999 SENSE Safety Plan states. "We preached 'professionalism,' but relied on unsafe conditions for motivation. Seeing corrective measures taken by labor and management together works in a positive way to improve attitudes. We must continue this commitment to eliminating unsafe conditions in our workplace. But, eliminating conditions does not change an individual's actions.
"Building on the foundations laid in 1998, we now turn more attention to professionalism. Ownership requires taking responsibility for our own actions. Our campaign for safety must now focus on changing unsafe behavior through awareness and personal accountability."
SENSE Coordinators plan to "change directions" with a plan called "CAB" -- Conditions, Awareness, Behavior.
The six-step plan calls for SENSE Coordinators and Team Members to attack unsafe conditions and practices; increase individual awareness; accent positive behavior; address unsafe habits; publicize their success; and build on community and team concepts.
The CAB plan is already being implemented. For example, SENSE Members produced a video titled "Staying Safe in the Red Zone" that demonstrates simple but safe work habits. The video is currently being distributed across CSXT to all Division Contacts and Team Captains for showing to SENSE Team Members. The video will also be shown at all CSXT training facilities for new hires, to locomotive engineer trainees and at CSXT Engineer Certification classes.
SENSE leaders also developed and conducted a Safety Survey to identify "real" safety issues on CSXT from the locomotive engineer's perspective.
A summary of the survey, administered by the Evans Planning Group of Columbus, Ohio, was released last month. The survey identifies current opinions, attitudes and perceptions concerning participation in the SENSE Program, and safety concerns and priorities on CSXT as seen by locomotive engineers. Results of the Safety Survey summary will be available in next month's Locomotive Engineer Newsletter.
Information from the survey will also be used to identify regional differences across CSXT to determine what employees and mangers do right to improve safety.
"Discovering what people do right, then implementing those practices to other regions, should prove to benefit the safety of locomotive engineers and their co-workers," Driggers said.
One of the goals of SENSE Safety is to change workers' attitudes, in that injuries are seen as a "normal" part of the workplace.
"We can have a positive impact by reducing the severity and rate of occurrence of injuries," Driggers said. "SENSE has proven this, experiencing no deaths to locomotive engineer since we instituted the SENSE Safety Program. Locomotive engineers are making a difference in safety on CSXT."
Ken Kroeger, left, and his wife Sereena Hogan, at the BLE's 1998 Southwestern Convention Meeting in San Antonio.
BLE Locomotive Engineer Ken Kroeger never considered running for a union office. But his involvement in a major derailment in 1989 changed his mind and put him on track to becoming the BLE's newest Special Representative.
Ten years ago, local managers put the blame on Kroeger for a derailment that occurred while he was at the throttle, and he was dismissed from service under allegations of "poor train handling."
But with the help of Division 28 Local Chairman Peter Sheehey, Vice-General Chairman Bill Hannah and General Chairman Lee Pruitt, Kroeger appealed the decision and was able to prove that faulty train makeup was the actual cause of the derailment. Kroeger was reinstated with full seniority and all lost wages.
He came away from the ordeal with a new perspective on the union that sparked him to run for a BLE office.
"I wanted to help my Brothers and Sisters the way my local chairman helped me," Kroeger said.
He was elected Vice Local Chairman for Division 28 (Tucson, Ariz.) in 1990, and elected to his first three-year term as Local Chairman in January of 1995. He was re-elected to a second term in 1997.
His years of service as a local chairman opened the door for increased service to the BLE. In 1996, Kroeger became a founding member of the BLE's National Mobilization. He helped implement the BLE's extensive mobilization network, mainly throughout the Southwestern United States.
His calm resolve in the face of chaos will be a great asset in his new position as a Special Representative. He will replace Jim Bradford as representative in Zone 4, which includes the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
"If I can be half as good a Special Rep as Jim was, I will know that I am doing a good job," Kroeger said of his mentor and friend.
Kroeger hired out in May of 1973 for the Southern Pacific. He earned his promotion to locomotive engineer in 1974 and joined the BLE on Nov. 1, 1976.
Kroeger will have a little extra help in his position from his "beautiful and supportive wife" of 10 years, Sereena Hogan. She helps him a great deal in his job.
"Sereena supports the mission of the BLE and often becomes involved and contributes her time and energies to the projects to which I am assigned," Kroeger said.
Kroeger thanked his General Chairman, Lee Pruitt, for believing in him and for giving him the opportunity to participate in numerous projects for the Southern Pacific-Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment.
"Lee is a wealth of knowledge and is the kind of General Chairman who is always there for his local chairmen, and I truly appreciate it," says Kroeger.
Kroeger also thanked BLE Vice-President Bill Walpert for appointing him to the BLE National Mobilization Team and recommending the ID hire him for the Special Rep job.
Away from work, Kroeger enjoys water sports and is a certified scuba diver. He and his wife are animal lovers who share their Tucson home with two elderly dogs and three cats.
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