(CN issued the following news release on May 17.)
MONTREAL — CN today announced the winners of its Safe Handling Awards for 2003. In all, 77 companies – 37 in Canada and 40 in the United States – received the coveted awards.
First introduced in 1992, Safe Handling Awards are presented each year to CN customers that load 100 or more cars with dangerous goods annually and meet key objectives and high standards for safe handling and shipment of the commodities. The awards are presented to companies that met established standards, according to the total number of shipments of dangerous goods for all facilities.
“The Safe Handling Awards reward customers for thoroughness, care and high standards of execution in handling dangerous goods,” said Jerry Boland, vice-president, sales – industrial products. “CN has strict standards for transporting dangerous commodities, and we work closely with our customers to make sure they meet the highest standards in the industry.”
The Safe Handling Awards program complements a series of initiatives intended to make CN the safest railroad in North America.
“The Safe Handling Awards are an integral part of the Responsible Care(R) program – an ongoing performance improvement initiative. CN has been a Responsible Care(R) partner since 1997, which demonstrates a long-term commitment to safety by the company,” said John Dalzell, vice-president, Risk Management. “Adopted by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association (CCPA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), Responsible Care(R) pulls together our risk management and community outreach initiatives into a single program.”
Railroads have a solid reputation for safely transporting regulated goods. At CN, the corporate focus is on a strict application of safety rules, ensuring equipment is safe, and operating trains safely.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.