BNSF Central Repair Facility grounded in safety
By JEREMIAH VALENTINE
Staff Writer
Every mile on BNSF’s network is backed by employees’ pursuit of safety excellence. Take the example of our Central Repair Facility (CRF), which for decades has done much more than repair equipment. They’ve cultivated a culture where safety leads the way.
Located in Kansas City, Kansas, the CRF is the only facility of its kind at BNSF, servicing more than 40 different technologies. The team has gone 20+ years without an injury.
The 35 technicians and foremen service many electronic components, including onboard communications, radios, routers, switches and wind detectors.
Chuck Magnuson, principal telecom engineer, is one of the more experienced team members with 31 years of service. He encourages his teammates to keep long-range safety goals in mind.
“I always tell them that I want to retire injury-free, and I want them to retire that way as well,” he said.
Their work in maintaining and repairing safety appliances is essential to keeping trains moving safely.
When interacting with these appliances, technicians follow all personal protective equipment requirements, safety protocols and procedures, especially when electricity is involved. They also restrict their workspace to prevent others from entering an environment where there could be some safety exposures.
The CRF team builds on the safety culture their predecessors established while passing the torch to newer employees. Foremen spend time with trainees, sharing knowledge and instilling safety values.
The team also practices BNSF’s core value of approaching others.
“You can approach someone who goes above and beyond to compliment them,” Magnuson said. “But you can also use that opportunity to help them work safer.”
Telecom Foreman Merlin “Skip” Dixon has been with BNSF for 20 years. During team debriefs, he discusses past incidents as learning opportunities. Sharing examples helps everyone understand the safest way to work.
“We all work to make sure the railroad is safer,” Dixon said. “It all comes back to moving freight across the country.”
