Duly Noted

Safety Rule Books

Dramatic Improvements in Safety

Hile Group's model for safety rule book revision has gained notoriety in the United States transportation industry because of the dramatic improvements in safety culture and performance that accompany its implementation.

Our process is collaborative, bringing together long-opposed constituencies. We generate intense common ground— the top priority being the health and safety of the man and woman on the ground—and safety commitment among co-workers organization-wide, upwards of 300 people in some cases. With that common ground established, we then require project participants to negotiate wording, enforcement, and empowerment—resulting in safety rules and recommended work practices that are owned by all who were involved

The following are outcomes that Hile Group has witnessed companies experiencing from our inclusive writing process:

  • "Buy-in" to the new documents from all "sides" such as management, mid-level supervisors, front-line employees, and union representatives
  • Shared compliance with/enforcement of mandatory and recommended rules and/or practices across stakeholder groups
  • Improved communications across colleagues
  • Craft-specific texts that are independent of each other where job activities differ but ensure consistent standards across crafts where the job activities are the same
  • General updating of the existing policies, practices, rules, and guidelines including the integration of current information and elimination of obsolete or irrelevant information
  • Operational text that consistently and clearly addresses applicable laws and regulations
  • Simple, accessible, user-friendly text and layout

The Federal Railroad Administration is currently researching the model to learn more about how it produces such positive results.

Safety Rule Book Clients

Since our initial effort with CSX Transportation in 1989, we have revised rule books with Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad, Kansas City Southern Lines, Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad ( U.S. Operations), Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Alaska Railroad.