Rail Safety Plan Needed

The recent environmental accidents occurring during transportation of chemicals and the tragic rail accident occurring in South Carolina require a system-level approach to planning safe transportation that the industry has seemingly ignored.

Some examples of safety improvements that could be taken by railroads: continuous monitoring of critical components (wheel bearings, brakes, etc.); coordinating surveys of rails to coincide with shipment of hazardous materials; improved real-time monitoring of rails and switches; real-time availability of hazardous materials cleanup teams; review of routes with respect to other train schedules to minimize the opportunity for hazardous loads or passenger trains being in an area at the same time. It seems that the true cost of conducting business is sometimes put off until an accident occurs--or the cost of infrequent accidents is just accepted. That is not quality management. In the end it costs more; perhaps not for the company responsible, but it in terms of human suffering and impact on our environment.

DAVID F. TUMA, Port Hueneme