(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, April 30, 2012)
ENOLA, Pa. — Employees at Norfolk Southern’s Enola Locomotive Shop made history last month as the first in the company to surpass 2 million employee-hours without an injury.
The 250 mechanics, electricians, sheet metal workers, and others maintain and repair Norfolk Southern’s fleet of diesel locomotives. They perform work that ranges from locomotive oil changes and engine repairs to maintenance of locomotive air brakes and wheels. Employees can work on as many as 15 locomotives at one time in the shop, which stretches over nearly an acre.
The last reportable injury at the Enola Locomotive Shop occurred in May 2007. Since then, shop employees have logged an average of 34,800 hours per month over 58 months without injury.
“This achievement is a testament to the caliber of craftsmen working at the shop and our ability to work as a team,” said Ernie McClellan, manager of the Enola Locomotive Shop. “Our employees have done an outstanding job communicating the importance of safety because, at the end of the day, we’re watching out for one another.”
Don Graab, NS vice president mechanical, said Enola employees are consistent leaders in working safely to resolve technical issues that affect locomotive performance. “This means locomotives spend less time in the shop and more time on the rails,” Graab said. “Ultimately, it’s about working together to achieve success and returning home safely to our families.”