Short Line Safety Institute appointed Sam Cotton as Senior Manager – Safety and Operations

Short Line Safety Institute appointed Sam Cotton as Senior Manager – Safety and Operations


The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has appointed Sam Cotton for the position of Senior Manager – Safety and Operations for the Short Line Safety Institute, replacing Mike Long, who recently accepted a position with the Federal Railroad Administration.

In his new role, Sam will be responsible for the management of the Safety Culture Assessment program. A Safety Culture Assessment is a voluntary, non-punitive and confidential five-to-ten-day onsite process with a rigorous methodology that includes an online survey of staff, discussions with management, and observations of the railroads daily practices.

Sam has served the SLSI as a Safety Culture Assessor since 2015, and for the past two years as a Team Lead. As one of the original Safety Culture Assessors during the Short Line Safety Institute’s Pilot Program, Cotton helped develop and test the protocols and processes that are in place today.

“Sam has been a go-to resource for our entire Safety Assessor team, conducting all aspects of the Assessment process, providing feedback to improve the program, and speaking on behalf of the SLSI at national and regional meetings. His passion for the process, and the impact of a Safety Culture Assessment on a railroad, is evident to all who have worked with him,” said Tom Murta, Executive Director, Short Line Safety Institute.

The Assessment tools review the ten core elements of a strong safety culture, as adopted by the DOT Safety Council. At the end of the assessment, best practices from the railroad industry, and tools to address any opportunity areas are made available to the railroad.

For more information, visit: www.shortlinesafety.org

20th August 2018

 

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