Safety in Hazmat Transportation by Rail with Wendy Buckley

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast hosted by Don Walsh, founder, president, and CEO of The Revolution Rail Group, a railcar consulting and brokering company, which is the anchor sponsor for the podcast. Don shares his experience of how he got into the industry as a teenager and his journey to establishing a consulting and brokering company in the railroad industry. In this episode Don is joined by guest, Wendy Buckley, the founder, president, and CEO of Stars Hazmat Consulting. She has an extensive background in hazmat and has worked with and for various organizations and departments, is a Sirius XM show guest-host and an author.

Don’t miss out as they discuss the importance of safety when working with hazardous materials in the railroad industry and share experiences helping companies transport, store, handle and remediate hazardous materials safely. 

They also delve into the remediation process implemented in the East Palestine, Ohio derailment from February 3, 2023, as well as common mistakes people make when working with hazardous materials. They emphasize the importance of communication with employees and leadership's role in operating safely. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the railroad industry and the critical role that safety plays in the handling and transportation of hazardous materials by rail.

KEY POINTS:

Don Walsh is the founder, president, and CEO of the The Revolution Rail Group, which is the anchor sponsor for the American Railroading Podcast. Don got into the industry as a teenager by knocking on doors in his neighborhood and doing summer jobs for a man who owned a rail car repair company.Wendy Buckley is the founder, president, and CEO of Stars Hazmat Consulting, who is the first guest on the American Railroading Podcast.Wendy Buckley has an extensive background in hazmat and has worked for and with various organizations and departments, including the Federal Railroad Administration, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, multiple county fire departments, and has performed Hazmat training for educators and the U.S. military.She is an instructor, trainer, and an adjunct professor teaching hazmat transportation. She appears monthly on a show on Sirius XM Radio, publishes a weekly newsletter called Hazmat Chronicle, and has written a book on hazmat transportation.Wendy Buckley has won numerous honors and awards, including being listed as one of the 10 most successful businesswomen to watch in 2022 and one of the 20 most inspiring women leaders of 2022.Wendy Buckley helps companies transport, store, dispose of, and handle hazmat safely and efficiently, in compliance with regulations and industry best practices.Discussion of the remediation process implemented in the East Palestine, Ohio derailment from February 3, 2023.The importance of safety when working with hazardous materials in the railroad industry. The most common mistake people make is becoming complacent and forgetting that hazardous materials can cause damage to the body, short-term and long-term injury, and even death.Most personal injuries occur at the beginning or end of a career due to ignorance or complacency. Communication with employees is crucial, and leadership must understand the importance of operating safely. There tends to be a misunderstanding about what the shipper's responsibility is and what the railroad's responsibility is. Pre-trip inspections are essential.It is necessary to check all loading and unloading equipment and fittings before loading or unloading a railcar, to ensure everything is functioning properly, and report any non-conformance and/or leaks.

LINKS MENTIONED:

https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/