(Washington) A “special” investigation will be opened in the United States into “the safety culture and practices” of the Norfolk Southern railway company, authorities announced on Tuesday, after several accidents, one of which caused toxic fumes in Ohio.
The latter, a derailment on February 3 in the locality of East Palestine, shone the spotlight on the company and sparked a shower of criticism against the Biden administration, especially in the Republican opposition.
And on Tuesday, a Norfolk Southern employee died in Cleveland, Ohio, the third since late 2021, according to the US Transportation Accident Investigation Agency (NTSB).
The agency said a special investigation into “Norfolk Southern’s safety organization and culture” was to be opened.
“Given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents, the NTSB also urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices, with input from employees and others, and to implement necessary changes to improve safety,” the agency added.
The NTSB said that since December 2021 it had dispatched crews to the site of five “notable” crashes involving Norfolk Southern.
The agency said it was “concerned that several organizational factors may be involved in the crashes, including safety culture.”
But the fact “that Norfolk Southern continues to operate safely is vital for the United States”, she said.
The derailment in East Palestine had caused a huge fire and evacuations. Among other things, the train was carrying vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastic.
The railway authorities then carried out “controlled” releases of vinyl chloride to avoid a possible explosion, releasing toxic fumes.
Some residents have reported since the accident that they had had various symptoms, including headaches and rashes, and said they feared they might end up with cancer in a few years.
The Biden administration has been criticized for its handling of the derailment. Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg recently said he regretted not speaking out sooner after the crash.