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Safety Standout

Undercutter Gang 9160 Attributes Safety Record to Teamwork

June 6, 2008 | 09:10 a.m. CDT

Under cutter Gang 9160, formed in January 2004, is a perfect example of what commitment to safety, the job and coworkers can accomplish – working 1,610 days without a personal injury.

The group's 42 employees use a combination of machines and manual labor in the undercutter process – pulling spikes, knocking off anchors, replacing bad ties, dumping ballast, and removing mud and other debris from under and within the track structure.

Working in temperatures ranging from 10 to 103 degrees, the gang has undercut the Chester and Pana subdivisions in Illinois, the Falls City and Cherokee subdivisions in Kansas, the Jefferson City Subdivision in Missouri and the Cherokee Subdivision in Oklahoma. They also assisted during the July 2007 flood in Kansas.

The gang members take pride in their safety record. Each job briefing includes an update on their number of injury-free days.

Their success involves mentors who assist newer employees and "walk" the group to ensure nothing jeopardizes their safety plan or record. The employees look out for each other, taking responsibility to stop any act they deem unsafe. Each achievement is seen as a group effort.

 "We want to be an inspiration to other work groups across the system," said Gary Carnahan, track supervisor.

The group gives a "hats off" to its safety committee, including Dave Eckert, safety supervisor; John Rice, safety captain, and Byron Seabaugh, Dana Hayden, Marc Cruz, Dave Marmon and Wayne Birmingham.

They also credit the support of their managers, including Cecil Martinez, manager-track programs; Gerald Noll, manager-track programs; Chris Kirk, manager-Maintenance of Way equipment; Greg Lemmerman, director-track programs-rail, and Craig Domski, assistant vice-president, Engineering Track Programs.

"Those guys support us 100 percent," Carnahan said. "They give us whatever we need to make our jobs safer and easier."

Carnahan added that Work Equipment Supervisors Tommy Prichard and Mike Kramer, who oversee the mechanical group and undercutter crew, respectively, are an equally important part of "the mix."

"The bottom line is we are a family and look out for each other," Carnahan added.

Safety Standouts recognizes work groups that have achieved safety milestones. To submit a recognition item, fill out the Safety Standouts form found in the Story Comments and Ideas link in UPOnline.