Safety

Emergency Responders from 12 States Complete Union Pacific's Tank Car Safety Training

Omaha, Neb., October 13, 2014

Union Pacific Railroad conducted tank car safety training for 62 emergency response personnel from 12 states at the rail industry's testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado. Two five-day courses were held from September 21-26 and October 5-10. Union Pacific paid for all attendees' expenses, with no cost to communities or organizations.

"Our tank car safety programs are an important feature of our ongoing commitment to educating first responders in the communities we serve," said Mark Maday, Union Pacific's manager, Hazardous Materials Training. "These five-day courses offer important information and hands-on experience responders can use to protect themselves and their communities in the unlikely event of a rail-related hazardous material incident."

The training covered a variety of safety subjects including how to identify tank car types, tank car construction features, and the fittings and safety appliances on tank cars. Participants received hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage, making repairs, controlling the release of hazardous materials from damaged rail cars and using proper protective clothing.

Class members also participated in a large scale exercise that simulated a hazardous material incident. The exercise was intended to help students learn how to safely respond to a hazardous materials incident, as well as how to effectively work with Union Pacific in the event of such an incident.

The five-day, 40-hour courses were held at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center located at the Association of American Railroad's Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colorado. Since 1986, Union Pacific has sponsored 53 five-day training programs at the Transportation Technology Center.

Union Pacific regularly reaches out to fire departments as well as other emergency responders along its routes to offer comprehensive training to first responders in communities where the railroad operates. Each year, the company trains approximately 2,500 local, state and federal first-responders on ways to minimize the impact of a potential derailment. Union Pacific has trained nearly 38,000 public responders and almost 7,500 private responders (shippers and contractors) since 2003. This includes classroom and hands-on training.

Emergency response personnel from the following organizations attended the five-day course:

  • Arizona:
    • Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix
  • Arkansas:
    • Conway Fire Department, Conway
  • Illinois:
    • Chicago Heights Fire Department, Chicago Heights
    • Sterling Fire Department, Sterling
    • Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, Wheeling
  • Kansas:
    • Hutchinson Fire Department, Hutchinson
  • Minnesota:
    • South Metro Fire Department, South St. Paul
    • Clearwater Fire Department, Clearwater
    • Albert Lea Fire Department, Albert Lea
    • Mankato DPS-Fire Rescue, Mankato
    • Shakopee Fire Department, Shakopee
    • St. James Fire Department, St. James
  • Missouri:
    • Cape Girardeau Fire Department, Cape Girardeau
  • Nebraska:
    • State Fire Marshall, Lincoln
  • Nevada:
    • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas
  • Oregon:
    • Portland Fire Department, Portland
    • Eugene Fire Department, Eugene
  • Texas
    • New Braunfels Fire Department, New Braunfels
    • Schertz Fire Rescue, Schertz
    • Georgetown Fire Department, Georgetown
    • Round Rock Fire Department, Round Rock
    • Arlington Fire Department, Arlington
    • Longview Fire Department, Longview
    • Seguin Fire Department, Seguin
    • Selma Fire Department, Selma
    • Taylor Fire Department, Taylor
    • Denton Fire Department, Denton
    • Arlington Fire Department, Arlington
    • Harris County HazMat, Houston
  • Utah:
    • Ogden Fire Department, Ogden
    • South Davis Fire Department, South Davis
  • Wyoming:
    • Cheyenne Fire and Rescue, Cheyenne

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2004-2013, Union Pacific invested approximately $30 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.

Media Contact

Mark Davis
402-203-0964
mwdavis@up.com
@davisuprr

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