Union Pacific

Safety

Union Pacific Railroad Conducts Crude-by-Rail Safety Training Course for Emergency Responders from Eight States

Omaha, Neb., December 03, 2014

Union Pacific Railroad conducted training for 39 emergency response personnel from eight states November 12 - 14. The training focused on sharpening the emergency responders' skills to better prepare them in the unlikely event of a crude-by-rail incident in or near their respective communities.

Union Pacific proactively reaches out to fire departments as well as other emergency responders along its lines to offer comprehensive training to first responders in communities where the railroad operates. The company annually 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.

The recently completed training covered a variety of safety subjects, including identification of tank car types that transport crude, tank car fittings, tank car construction, chemical and physical properties of the different types of crude oil and crude oil response precautions. Participants received hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage, making certain on-site repairs, controlling the release of crude oil from damaged rail cars and crude oil fire suppression techniques.

Class members participated in a simulated crude oil fire. The simulation helped students understand how the railroad would work with them in an emergency, and how to work safely while on railroad property.

The three-day, 24-hour courses were held at the Association of American Railroad's Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colorado. Union Pacific paid for all attendees' expenses, with no cost to communities or organizations. So far in 2014, the railroad has trained 279 emergency responders on crude oil safety at the Pueblo facility.

Emergency response personnel from the following organizations attended the course:

• Arkansas:
  • Ft. Smith Fire Department, Fort Smith
• California:
  • Salinas Fire Department, Salinas
  • West Sacramento Fire Department, West Sacramento
  • Cal Fire - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Luis Obispo
  • Davis Fire Department, Davis
  • Placer Hills Fire Department/Placer County Hazmat, Meadow Vista
  • Roseville Fire Department, Roseville
  • Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento
  • Truckee Fire Protection District, Truckee
• Illinois:
  • Salem Fire Protection District, Salem
• Iowa:
  • Northwood Volunteer Fire Company, Northwood
  • Marion Fire Department, Marion
• Minnesota:
  • Albert Lea Fire Department, Albert Lea
• Nebraska:
  • Hastings Fire Department, Hastings
• Oregon:
  • Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Portland
• Utah:
  • North View Fire District, North Ogden
  • Ogden Fire Department, Ogden

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.