Acknowledgments

The viewpoints herein are the opinion of the United Steelworkers and reflect no official support or endorsement by the workgroup who assisted with this publication. This publication is more than just a guide – it’s a living, breathing document that we plan to update to reflect changes in the industry.

About the United Steelworkers Health, Safety and Environment Department

The USW’s HSE department plays a vital role in building the union with member involvement, protecting health, safety and the environment, and saving lives through five core functions:

1. Assisting local unions with evaluating and resolving health, safety, and environmental problems
2. Assisting or conducting education and training programs for local union health and safety representatives and committees, officers, and staff representatives
3. Participating in legal cases, including helping local unions to elect party status when employers contest OSHA and MSHA citations
4. Advocating for better regulations, standards, and laws to protect our members and all workers
5. Helping negotiate stronger health, safety and environment language in USW contracts with employers.

Published January, 2025

USW Health, Safety and Environment Department
60 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 562-2581
[email protected]

In 2024, the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) initiated the USW railroad safety project to address the alarming number of fatalities and serious injuries with in-plant /in-mill railroads in various industries at USW represented workplaces. The USW’s Health, Safety and Environment Department coordinated the project with Mr. George Gavalla, President, Triad Railroad Consulting, LLC. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Gavalla, the USW local union representatives, and their management counterparts, who participated in this collaborative effort to prevent future fatalities and serious injuries, and to make safer in-plant / in-mill rail operations. We cannot express our gratitude enough to the members of the union-management workgroup listed below:

Fran Arabia – USW/ATI Safety, Health & Environmental Coordinator, USW Local Union 1196, Brackenridge, PA

Michael Bivens – Safety Chair, USW Local 309, Arconic, Alcoa, TN

Bob Boardman – USW Contract Coordinator Local Union 979, Cleveland Cliffs, Cleveland, OH

Connie Brown – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Tom Duffy – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Kayla Flowers – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Joseph Floyd – Railroad Supervisor, Arconic, Alcoa, TN

George Gavalla – President, Triad Railroad Consulting, LLC, Norwich, CT

George Hall – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Kirk Higbie – Cleveland Cliffs Program Director Railroad Safety, Cleveland, OH

David James – Central Safety Chair, USW Local 309, Arconic, Alcoa, TN

Zach Martin – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Nick Miclaus – USW/Goodyear Health and Safety Coordinator, USW Local Union 2L, Akron, OH

Rob Patterson – USW Safety Representative, Local 979, Cleveland Cliffs, Cleveland, OH

Devin Pratt – Department Chair, USW Local 309, Arconic, Alcoa, TN

Steve Sallman – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Mike Shamber – Railroad Safety Rep, USW Local Union 1219, United States Steel, Braddock, PA

Joe Venere – USW Contract Coordinator Local Union 979, Cleveland Cliffs, Cleveland, OH

Nick Young – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA

Steven Zalar – Regional EHS Manager, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, OH

Juan Zuniga – USW Health, Safety and Environment Department; Pittsburgh, PA