Major railroads to join U.S. 'close call' voluntary reporting program

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Seven major North American freight rail companies on Thursday agreed to join a voluntary employee safety reporting program after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had urged the action following a Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio of a Norfolk Southern operated train.

The "Confidential Close Call Reporting System" encourages employees to report safety hazards by protecting workers from reprisal when they come forward. "The industry absolutely shares your commitment to establishing effective mechanisms to help prevent future accidents like the derailment in East Palestine," said the Association of American Railroads in a letter to Buttigieg.

The railroads joiniing are Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)