Description:

This course covers the importance of safety, quality, personal health and environmental awareness to the railroad industry and emphasizes the basic tools and techniques for improving these conditions on the job. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to define and explain the need for improved safety, quality, health and environmental awareness; describe their basic principles; explain the elements of successful programs; and apply these elements to typical tasks on the job. 3 hrs. lecture/wk. This course is only taught in the spring semester.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): TBA

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Define quality, safety, health, and environment in terms of business outcomes and overall customer satisfaction.
2. List the principles common in safety, quality, health, and environment programs.
3. Describe the basic process and structures of a program to improve quality.
4. Describe the critical elements of a successful safety/health program.
5. List and discuss the steps necessary in improving the environmental awareness in the railroad industry.
6. List and discuss the steps necessary to manage a hazardous materials handling program.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Investigate the Overall Concepts Of Quality, Safety, Health, and
Environment
   A. Define quality, safety, health, and environmental awareness.
   B. Discuss the relationship between quality, safety, health, and
environmental awareness.
   C. Describe the importance of quality, safety, health, and
environmental awareness in the railroad industry.

II. Principles Common To Quality, Safety, Health, and Environmental
Awareness
   A. Discuss the need for customer satisfaction, both internal and
external customers.
   B. List and describe the steps needed in a continuous improvement
program.
   C. List and describe the steps needed to manage with data.
   D. Describe the modern concept of teamwork.
      1. Describe a horizontal, cross-functional team.
      2. Define the company as team.
      3. Discuss the idea of equality of members.
      4. List methods to insure the empowerment of members.
      5. Describe the method of emphasizing the failure of process, not
team members.

III. Improving Railroad Quality
   A. Define business outcomes and customer satisfaction.
   B. Discuss the need for improved quality throughout the industry.
   C. List and explain the benefits of improved quality in the railroad
industry.
   D. Discuss the basic principles of quality.
   E. List and explain the basic process and structures of a program to
improve quality.
   F. Apply the principles and processes of quality improvement to
real-life business problems in the industry.

IV. Improving Railroad Safety and Health
   A. Describe the railroad environment and working conditions.
      1. Review industry accident/incident statistics.
   B. Discuss the personal case of an accident.
      1. Describe the responsibility of individual and the family.
      2. Discuss the avoidance of pain and suffering.
      3. Discuss the potential loss of work on the employee state of
mind.
   C. Discuss the business case of an accident.
      1. List expenses of an accident.
      2. Describe the interruption to customer service.
      3. Describe the damage to morale and productivity.
      4. List the damages to working environment.
      5. Describe how a high accident rate can lead to difficulty in
recruiting and hiring new employees.
      6. Discuss how fines and penalties can impact the safety program.
      7. Risks of increased legislation, regulation.
      8. Discuss the relationship of safety and health to quality.
   D. List two views of a safety and health program.
      1. Describe the behaviorist’s view.
      2. Describe the humanist’s view.
      3. Discuss the differences and similarities between the two views.
   E. List the principles of an effective safety program.
      1. Describe the "bottom up" method.
      2. List methods to increase involvement of employees.
      3. List methods of measurements.
      4. Describe the flexible process.
      5. List methods to gain management commitment.
      6. List the positive forces in an effective safety program.
      7. Discuss employee behavior in an effective safety program.
   F. Discuss program components: training, measurement, and consequences
for compliance and non-compliance.
      1. List rules and policies.
      2. List possible hazards .
         a. List steps to increase recognition.
         b. List the steps necessary to handle sources of accidents.
         c. List the steps in the elimination of accident causes.
      3. Outline a First aid and CPR program.
      4. Outline the content of a complete Wellness program.
      5. Discuss how an ergonomics program can impact a safety program.
      6. List and discuss the role of health and safety committees.
      7. Discuss accident investigation and analysis.
      8. List the steps in generating an emergency preparedness plan.
      9. List methods of data collection to track hazards.
     10. Discuss the importance of employee recognition.
     11. List and describe the basic personal protective equipment.
     12. List the types of back protection.
   G. List and discuss common injuries and safety hazards.
   H. Describe current trends and issues.
      1. Describe the methods of re-designing jobs and equipment to
eliminate risks.
      2. Discuss how to improve the work environment .
         a. Discuss how to focus on behavior.
         b. Describe how to improve communication.
      3. Discuss the individual worker’s responsibility in accident
prevention.
      4. Discuss the need for employee assistance programs for substance
abuse and its part in accident prevention.

V. Improving Railroad Environmental Awareness
   A. Compare the railroads to heavy industries.
   B. Discuss the rise in environmental consciousness.
      1. Discuss the results of increased public awareness.
      2. List the effects of pollution becoming visible.
      3. List and explain the pollution measurement devices.
   C. Discuss the impact of railroads on the environment.
      1. List the positive effects.
         a. Discuss fuel efficiency.
         b. Discuss emissions efficiency.
         c. Discuss land use.
         d. Describe hazardous material transportation safety.
      2. List the negative effects.
         a. Discuss derailment contamination.
         b. Discuss land contamination from past practices.
   D. List environmental protection legislation.
      1. List and explain levels of regulation and precedence .
      2. List and explain the categories of regulation compliance.
      3. List and explain the effects of regulations on railroads.
   E. List and explain the components of environmental awareness
programs.
      1. Give examples of corporate policies and practices.
      2. List ways for a railroad to show corporate commitment and
demonstration of commitment (environmental management plans).
      3. Discuss methods of increasing employee involvement.
      4. List the steps in starting and running a prevention program.
      5. List possible awareness programs.
      6. List and discuss the steps in a clean-up program.
   F. List the most common dangers.
      1. Discuss derailments producing hazardous chemical spills.
      2. Discuss the sources of fuel contamination.
      3. Explain the methods to cleanup residual contamination from past
practices.

VI. Outline the Steps In Hazardous Materials Handling
   A. Define hazardous materials.
   B. Define hazardous substances.
   C. Discuss the correct method for the safe transportation.
      1. Discuss train makeup.
      2. Give examples of correct positioning.
      3. Explain the correct method of switching.
      4. List the proper steps in placarding the load.
      5. Describe the correct method of providing documentation.
      6. Outline the steps in an emergency response plan.
      7. Explain the differences and similarities in international and
intermodal requirements.
   D. Discuss waste management.
      1. List and outline the steps in collection, labeling, storage,
training, and disposal.
   E. Discuss and give examples in current trends in environmental
awareness.
      1. Explain the need for stringent enforcement .
      2. Explain how increased knowledge and technology will help with
compliance.
      3. Discuss why the emphasis is on prevention.
      4. List the customer requirements for compliance.
      5. Discuss the impact on real estate if a spill occurs.
      6. Discuss the need for phasing out of hazardous materials.
      7. List who has responsibility for storm water.
      8. Emphasis on not dumping, burying, or burning on site.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

The instructor evaluates each student’s performance with periodic
quizzes (40% or grade) and a final examination (60% of grade).

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.