Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced the launch of a new nationwide railroad safety campaign on Monday at Chicago Union Station, aiming to enhance the protection of railworkers across the United States. The initiative responds to ongoing safety concerns and the need for improved implementation of recommendations designed to reduce accidents and fatalities in the rail industry.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy emphasized Chicago’s significance as the launch site, referring to the city as the nation’s rail hub where major east-west rail lines converge. Homendy highlighted that since 2020, 54 rail employees have died on the job and nearly 19,000 have been injured, underscoring the urgent need for stronger safety measures.

The campaign follows concerns about the incomplete adoption of NTSB safety recommendations by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). According to Homendy, the NTSB has issued 95 unresolved safety recommendations to the FRA, with approximately 40% deemed “unacceptable actions” by unanimous board consensus. She acknowledged progress in the past, noting that since the NTSB’s establishment in 1967, many recommendations have been successfully implemented, contributing to safer rail transportation. However, she stressed that further efforts are critical to prevent additional worker injuries and deaths.

In response, an FRA representative stated that 44 of the 95 outstanding safety recommendations have been reviewed and returned to the NTSB with comments and are currently awaiting further responses. The FRA anticipates providing feedback on the remaining recommendations within the coming month.

Homendy pointed to recurring safety patterns identified during NTSB investigations, describing them not simply as report findings but as warnings that, if unaddressed, may lead to continued harm. The new campaign seeks to bring greater attention to these issues and support broader collaboration between federal agencies, rail operators, and other stakeholders to enhance railworker safety nationwide.