NS HAZMAT & SAFETY

Why does Norfolk Southern move hazardous materials?

The Federal Mandate: The freight rail industry’s impressive safety record, with 99.997% of hazmat carloads moved without a train accident- related release, and ongoing dedication to becoming even safer is one of the reasons the federal government requires NS and other freight railroads to move hazardous goods.

hazerdous materials chart

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS NS MOVES

The hazmat shipments NS moves are vital to our daily lives.
Here are some of the ways we use them every day.

Chlorine

For purifying our drinking water

Chlorine

Propane

For those outdoor barbeques and heating our homes

Propane

Crude Oil

Which helps the US move closer to energy independence

Crude Oil

Propylene

To make eyeglasses and
 water bottles

Propylene

Butadiene and Styrene

For making tires and shoes

Butadiene and Styrene

Sodium Hydroxide

To help in paper production, soap, and paint

Sodium Hydroxide

Who responds in emergency response situations?

The Norfolk Southern Environmental Protection Team is on call 24/7/365 to respond to any emergency across our 22-state network. In addition to our in-house experts, NS has an extensive network of hazmat response contractors and environmental consultants. When planning for an emergency, we work closely with local and state emergency responders to make sure we are unified in our response efforts if something were to happen. Classroom and hands-on training opportunities for first responders are also provided across our network. If you would like more information on our classes, please visit the OAR training page for a list of options near you.

NS Hazerdous Materials

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY

In partnership with federal regulatory agencies, Norfolk Southern and the rail industry have taken extensive measures to ensure the safe transport of crude and to help communities prepare and respond to potential incidents. Through voluntary industry agreements or federal directive, following are some of the actions Norfolk Southern has taken.

NS peforms route risk analysis on trains carrying:

 

  • More than 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) in a single carload of a divisoin 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive
  • A quantity of a material poisonous by inhalation in a single bulk packaging
  • A highway route-controlled quantity of a class 7 (radioactive) material
  • A high-hazard flammable train (HHFT)***
  • A continuous block of 20 or more tank cars loaded with a flammable liquid.
  • 35 or more tank cars throughout the train loaded with a flammable liquid or flammable gas

These assessments deploy an analytical tool developed by the industry and the federal government that uses 27 risk factors, including population density along a route, local emergency response capability, track quality, and signal systems. Based on results of these analyses, Norfolk Southern has diverted a number of these key crude trains to avoid certain metropolitan areas.

Risk Analysis

RapidSOS and Norfolk Southern’s solution, which is free to public safety agencies across the U.S., provides first responders quick and easy access to cargo and hazardous material information, enables mutual aid requests, and provides ongoing training. The feature builds on similar programs available in the industry and evolves communication in a way that better integrates first responders, the way they work and how they communicate. https://rapidsos.com/our-latest/norfolk-southen-new-solution-makes-train-incident-response-safer/opens in a new tab

Norfolk Southern & RapidSOS PARTNERSHIP

Reduced the maximum speed of key crude trains to 40 mph from 50 mph in places designated by Homeland Security officials as High Threat Urban Areas. In April 2015, the railroad reduced the maximum speed for all trains with 20 or more carloads of any flammable liquids, including crude oil or ethanol, to 40 mph in High Threat Urban Areas. The company routinely conducts operating rules checks to ensure continued compliance with this speed.

SPEED REDUCTION

Made at least one additional internal rail inspection above what is required by federal rules on main lines where key crude trains operate. In addition, the company conducts at least two inspections using a track geometry train to identify potential track safety issues.

TRACK INSPECTIONS

Added rail car wheel bearing detectors to existing detectors that alert employees to potentially defective car wheels and help prevent derailments.

WAYSIDE DEFECT DETECTORS

Agreed to equip all key crude trains with either distributed locomotive power or two-way telemetry end-of-train devices. Distributing locomotives throughout the train improves braking times, and the two-way devices enable train crews to apply emergency brakes from both ends of the train to stop faster.

ADVANCED BRAKING METHODS

Worked with the Association of American Railroads as the industry developed a shared inventory of emergency response resources that could be deployed if an incident occurred on a key crude train route. The inventory includes availability of things such as fire-fighting equipment and contractors that could respond to oil spills. In addition, the company purchased seven additional fire-fighting foam trailers and strategically placed them along crude routes.

PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES

Invested in enhancements to crude-by-rail training at the industry’s Security and Emergency Response Training Center in Colorado and provided tuition and travel expenses as part of ongoing efforts to help train first responders across our system.

TRAINING INVESTMENT

Continued to advocate for more robust tank car standards for flammable liquid commodities, including petroleum crude oil, with standards incorporating thicker tank shells, thermal protection, and better relief valves, among other specifications.

TANK CARS

TRAINING RESOURCES

NS HazMat Traffic Request Form

Data on the common types of hazardous materials being transported through local communities are useful for local emergency planners in developing effective and realistic emergency response plans. To request information specific to your jurisdiction send an email request to NS at HMTraffic@nscorp.com. The request must include a written request on official department letterhead and the completed NS HazMat Traffic Form Request.

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AAR Field Guide To Tank Cars

Field Guide to Tank Cars is intended to be used by emergency responders and others involved with railroad tank cars.  It provides information on the types, safety systems, stenciling, and markings of tank cars utilized to transport regulated (hazardous materials/dangerous goods) and non-regulated commodities.

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PHMSA - Commodity Preparedness and Incident Management Reference Sheet – Petroleum Crude Oil

Developed in conjunction with experts from the hazmat emergency response community, railroads and industry, this document provides emergency response organizations with a standard incident management framework based on pre-incident planning and preparedness principles and best practices. The reference sheet covers transportation safety and precautions, hazard assessment and risk, rail safety procedures, logistics, and the tools, equipment and resources necessary to prepare for and respond to crude oil rail transportation incidents.

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PHMSA - Lessons Learned Report on Crude Oil by Rail Emergency Response

In May 2014, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, PHMSA hosted a “Lessons Learned” Roundtable forum that consisted of a panel of fire chiefs and emergency management officials from some of the jurisdictions that experienced a crude oil or ethanol rail transportation incident. The purpose of this forum was to share firsthand knowledge about their experiences responding to and managing these significant rail incidents.

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NFPA / Fire Protection Research Foundation – High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) On-Scene Incident Commander Field Guide

This Guide (July 2016) provides tactical guidance and information for the On-Scene Incident Commander responsible for the management of bulk flammable liquid emergencies involving High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT), with a focus upon petroleum crude oil and ethanol. The application and use of a risk-based response (RBR) methodology for both planning and response purposes are critical success factors in the successful management of a HHFT incident.

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Chronology of DOT Actions on Safe Transportation of Flammable Liquids By Rail

PHMSA and FRA are committed to immediate and long-term solutions to prevent derailments involving flammable liquids and, in the event of a derailment, the consequences such an incident could have on individuals and communities. The PHMSA/FRA action plan includes unannounced spot inspections, sampling, and monitoring the movement and classification of crude oil within and out of oil fields throughout the U.S. In addition, we are engaging all stakeholders involved in shipping crude oil and other flammable liquids by rail to find common solutions to operational issues.

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Tank Car Damage Assessment Best Practices

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AAR Emergency Action Guides

The purpose of the Emergency Action Guides are to provide accurate information about the hazardous commodities most frequently carried in bulk by rail transport. The guides provide data for 268 commodities representing about 98% by volume of hazmat carried by rail in a downloadable and printable format.

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