The recent train derailment and wreck in East Palestine, Ohio, where toxic vinyl chloride was released into the air resulting in a partial evacuation of the city, could very well of been prevented, or the damage minimized. Fritz Edler, Special Safety Representative of Railroad Workers United, joins the Thursday morning edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the current climate of the railroad industry in North America. An operational model called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) is used extensively in the industry which ideally should streamline operations providing consistent and reliable service. However, over the past decade or more it has been used to increase profits while decreasing the workforce leading to poor inspection and a deficiency of trained personnel to deal with issues leading to preventable accidents. “Run her ‘til she leaves the rail, to be on time with the southern mail.”

Photo courtesy of Martin Winkler from Pixabay

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