FRA Requires Stronger Rail Cars
Starting in March, commuter rail cars must be built with stronger front-end frames to better protect passengers during collisions. click here This is good news, but underscores the importance of avoiding collisions in the first place. How? Rail workers are the eyes and ears of safety on the tracks. If they hestitate to raise safety concerns for fear of management retaliation, we all are at risk. But two new laws protect railroad workers (FRSA) and subway workers (NTSSA) who raise safety concerns. Enlightened railroads should spread the word among their employees and welcome any and all safety "complaints." For the sake of rail safety, railroads have got to stop treating such workers as malcontents worthy of retaliation. And if workers invoke their protections under the FRSA and NTSSA, that will begin to happen.
I agree wholeheartedly with your conjecture here. Right now in the train industry (and some other industries) anyone who rocks the boat or causes even a little bit of extra work to be done is seen as a nuisance. These companies would rather optimize their bottom line in the hopes that nothing bad happens.
Companies have to get in the habit of rewarding conscientious work instead of discouraging it.