Case Study 1
CASE STUDY 1
BNSF Railway: Training New Hires for Safety
In 2011, BNSF rolled out a plan to hire more than 4,000 new employees – one of the most ambitious hiring plans ever for the company. Of the new hires, the majority of them (about 2,400) are being hired into the company’s Transportation Group as conductors. The hiring is essential to fill vacancies due to retirements and to respond to the increasing business volumes BNSF is shipping. While these new people will help BNSF continue providing the level of service that meets customer expectations, they must also be equipped with the knowledge, tools, focus, and skills to work safely. According to a Training Services department spokesperson, “Safety permeates all of our training programs, and with influx of new employees, we want to be sure the concepts are clear and effective.”
Multiple Training Methods
As new hires come on board, BNSF provides training through multiple methods, including on-the-job training in the field with the input from experienced employee mentors and safety assistants or safety coordinators. Formal training is provided for many positions at the company’s Technical Training Center (TTC) in Overland Park, Kansas, as well as in the field. New hires at BNSF have an interim period before they officially become conductors. During this period candidates must successfully respond to an interview panel, pass safety and rules exams, and complete either a 13-week or 15-week intensive training program (depending on the location) that includes classroom, and on- the-job training. The program culminates in a final exam which, when passed, qualifies students as conductors. United Transportation Union (UTU) training coordinators help with the first week of training and pair students with experienced conductors who mentor students during the on-the-job training segment. One of the UTU’s training coordinators explains that he sets the tone on his territory by focusing most of his instruction on safe work
BNSF Railway: Training New Hires for Safety
In 2011, BNSF rolled out a plan to hire more than 4,000 new employees – one of the most ambitious hiring plans ever for the company. Of the new hires, the majority of them (about 2,400) are being hired into the company’s Transportation Group as conductors. The hiring is essential to fill vacancies due to retirements and to respond to the increasing business volumes BNSF is shipping. While these new people will help BNSF continue providing the level of service that meets customer expectations, they must also be equipped with the knowledge, tools, focus, and skills to work safely. According to a Training Services department spokesperson, “Safety permeates all of our training programs, and with influx of new employees, we want to be sure the concepts are clear and effective.”
Multiple Training Methods
As new hires come on board, BNSF provides training through multiple methods, including on-the-job training in the field with the input from experienced employee mentors and safety assistants or safety coordinators. Formal training is provided for many positions at the company’s Technical Training Center (TTC) in Overland Park, Kansas, as well as in the field. New hires at BNSF have an interim period before they officially become conductors. During this period candidates must successfully respond to an interview panel, pass safety and rules exams, and complete either a 13-week or 15-week intensive training program (depending on the location) that includes classroom, and on- the-job training. The program culminates in a final exam which, when passed, qualifies students as conductors. United Transportation Union (UTU) training coordinators help with the first week of training and pair students with experienced conductors who mentor students during the on-the-job training segment. One of the UTU’s training coordinators explains that he sets the tone on his territory by focusing most of his instruction on safe work