Remembering The Polar Express

Rail Safety Reminder

I figured it would be fitting to do a blog on the Polar Express with it finally being December and official the start of the Christmas countdown for many of us. You may also be asking yourself,

“What does the Polar Express have to do with railcar safety?”

Well, I am glad you asked, so bear with me as we unpack the magic of railcar safety. If you have never seen the movie or read the book it is based on, let me give you a quick down and dirty. (Spoiler Alerts Ahead!) The movie follows the hectic adventures of a boy and his new friends on the Polar Express headed to the North Pole to see Santa Clause.  They have many twists and turns and harrowing feats as they make their way to the North Pole. From climbing atop the railcar to uncoupling some. In all the pandemonium, a boy who has seemingly lost his Christmas spirit and belief in Santa finds it renewed by the end of the movie. Again, I am sure you’re asking yourself, “how does this apply to railcar safety?” Well, the whole point of the movie is to believe and have faith in something greater than yourself.

For us, in the hazardous materials transportation world, that means believing in our ethos of safety first. While we cannot always see the fruits of our labor in creating a “culture of safety,” for those of us in the industry, we understand that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I have often heard many EHS professionals explain how “The safety department at their work is the redheaded stepchild of all the departments.” How it’s difficult to get people to buy into the idea safety saves lives, money, and the environment. Studies have shown, that corporations with a thriving safety cultures and a true belief that a safety culture works, have better production, better employee satisfaction, and better profits.

And let’s be honest, if The Polar Express employees had a better railcar safety training, they probably would have got to the North Pole faster and safer, but that doesn’t make for a good book or movie. With all that being said, it is the reason The Polar Express always reminds me that a great safety culture starts with me, as well as the importance of being safe around any railcar.

So, this holiday season, if you want to create a great safety culture around your rail services, remember it starts with you! And what better way to start that culture of safety than with one of industry leading training courses or Professional Rail Service Compliance Solutions. If you still need help deciding which service best suits your needs, feel free to call us for a FREE Consultation at 412-249-1111 and one of our team members will be glad to help you decide. And don’t forget to follow us on our social media accounts at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to find out when we drop ne stories like this one. You can also opt-in to our newsletter for exclusive offers, regulation changes, and more industry news!