Safety, Focus, and Winter Operations

Sean Ireland

Good morning team, this week’s message starts on a heavy note. Some of you may have heard: we lost a teammate, Charles Harrison, in Calera, Alabama. That news shook a lot of us, and it’s tough—no way around that. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Charles’s family and everyone down there in the Southwest Region. As investigations continue, we’re going to get more details, but there’s one thing we already need to talk about. Equipment left in the foul and securement. We cannot let our guard down, not even for a minute, whether you’re in the yard, at an industry, wherever—be certain that nothing’s left in the foul, and that everything is properly secured.

Sean Ireland

Based on what happened, we adjusted our weekend safety plan. That means, every team needs to double-check that we’re actually doing those safety briefings, the ERDs—Exposure Reduction Discussions—and especially, targeted testing on fouling tracks and securements. And I know sometimes these briefings might feel routine, but this week, they’re more important than ever. Sometimes, we get distracted—holiday season, year wrapping up, things swirling around in other departments. But for the transportation team? I want to be clear, there are no changes planned. We’re keeping our eyes on what matters: safety, cost, and service. Honestly, there’s just too much white noise out there right now.

Sean Ireland

Now, let me shift gears for a second to recognition—because while we focus on responding after a loss like this, it’s important to highlight those who are quietly moving the needle every day. This Wednesday, December 17, we’ll have one MTO from each zone doing operational engagement with their drones. These folks are going to be out there, not just on the ground but up in the air—testing, capturing, and then reporting back to the 1700 Regional Safety Call that night. Really, it’s a blend: they’re doing just as many ERDs with the drones as operational testing, and then everyone gets to learn from what they found. That’s how you build a culture—by watching, by sharing, by course-correcting together.

Sean Ireland

And I can’t move on without a quick thank you to our safety leaders: Dana Nichols, Mason Butler, Daniel G, Bryan Herrington, Alex Malcolm, and Brandon Byrd. These folks are putting in the work, spreading that blended approach with Job Safety Briefings, ERDs, and Operational Testing in their zones. I know sometimes it feels like these tasks stack up, but leadership like that? It matters. It sets the tone for everyone else.

Sean Ireland

Alright, let’s talk about what’s sitting right in front of us: winter. I feel like I say this every year, but winter’s here, whether we’re ready or not. Most of the region either has snow or is about to have it, and the temperature isn’t doing us any favors. The big thing from an operational side, especially for us, if you’ve got DP power available for a train, just use it. Don’t second guess it. That’s going to help the network flow, and honestly, it’s one less thing to stress about when we’re already juggling enough out there on the cold rails.

Sean Ireland

Now, on safety—and I know I sound like a broken record—don’t get ahead of yourself in the process. When it’s snowing, when there’s ice, that’s when shortcuts sneak in and that’s when accidents happen. Our weekly safety plan’s kicking in Monday night at 1800. We’re dragging the weekend plan all the way through Monday morning, just to be safe. So, we’re doubling down on job safety briefings, but make sure those are focused on winter weather: not just the standard stuff, but specifics for snow and ice, especially for folks riding equipment.

Sean Ireland

Speaking of that, falls from height? I mean, it’s rough enough getting on and off equipment in good weather, but when it’s icy, it’s easy to forget—zero on and off if you’re not certain. The yellow tie might be covered in snow—you just can’t take it for granted. Same thing with equipment in the foul: if you can’t see it, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That’s why exposure reduction discussions are so focused on these very risks. And as for operational testing, we’re sticking with our bread and butter: one Shove Test and one Switch Tag per shift, no exceptions. And for folks in Selkirk, you’ll get the hump yard-specific plan from Kevin Radford as usual.

Sean Ireland

Now, as tough as it is to talk about performance and costs after a week like this, that remains the job. The team’s been reviewing all yard and local jobs—looking at that sweet spot, right? Eight, eight-and-a-half hours for yard work, ten to ten-and-a-half for locals. The point is to find unproductive overtime, trim it, and make sure we’re not running up the bill where it’s not needed. Especially with holiday volumes about to dip, we’ll probably lock out some low-use tracks to save time and maintenance costs as we look toward 2026.

Sean Ireland

On the service side—yeah, PEAK UPS trains are the top priority. No surprise there, right? Every year, those trains pretty much drive our entire schedule during peak, and it’s on us to not just move them, but do it reliably. That means watching for missed switches, keeping customers informed if weather gets in the way, and honestly, not letting excuses pile up. Communication with our customers is more important than ever when the weather’s unpredictable. That’s something we’ve talked about in previous episodes, and I’m gonna keep beating that drum because it works.

Sean Ireland

Last but not least, managers—I need everyone on those record reviews. We’re down to 279 employees who still need a sit-down with a manager, and I know it’s tedious, but it’s also a good time to connect, talk securement, and make sure everyone’s up to date on process. For those with operational test failures since November 1st—there are 23 who haven’t gotten follow-up yet. That needs to be wrapped up by next week, no exceptions. And assistant superintendents, don’t forget your Test 113.7 on yardmaster communications—spread that out across the shifts.

Sean Ireland

Alright team, that’s the rundown for this week. I know it was a heavy start, but every step we take to tighten up our safety and performance, that honors Charles Harrison and protects every single one of us. Keep each other safe out there, trust the process, and let’s close out strong. Catch you all next Sunday.