HRM Assignment 3

BNSF Railway: Training New Hires for Safety

In 2011, BNSF rolled out a plan to hire more than 4,000 new employees—one of

the most ambitious hiring plans ever for the company. Of the new hires, the majority

of them (about 2,400) are being hired into the company’s Transportation Group as

conductors. The hiring is essential to fill vacancies due to retirements and to respond

to the increasing business volumes BNSF is shipping. While these new people will

help BNSF continue providing the level of service that meets customer expectations,

they must also be equipped with the knowledge, tools, focus, and skills to work safely.

According to a Training Services department spokesperson, “Safety permeates all of

our training programs, and with the influx of new employees, we want to be sure the

concepts are clear and effective.”

Multiple Training Methods

As new hires come on board, BNSF provides training through multiple methods, in-

cluding on-the-job training in the field with input from experienced employee men-

tors and safety assistants or safety coordinators. Formal training is provided for many

positions at the company’s Technical Training Center (TTC) in Overland Park,

Kansas, as well as in the field. New hires at BNSF have an interim period before

they officially become conductors. During this period, candidates must successfully

respond to an interview panel, pass safety and rules exams, and complete either a

13- or 15-week intensive training program (depending on the location) that includes

classroom and on-the-job training. The program culminates in a final exam which,

when passed, qualifies students as conductors.

United Transportation Union (UTU) training coordinators help with the first

week of training and pair students with experienced conductors who mentor stu-

dents during the on-the-job training segment. One of UTU’s training coordinators

explains that he sets the tone on his territory by focusing most of his instruction on

safe work practices: “I particularly focus on the Deadly Decisions—and consequences

of at-risk behaviors.” Once the new hires are paired, the experienced conductors play

a significant role in conductor training, teaching 9 to 10 weeks of the 13- to 15-week

program.

Cross-Training the Trainers

Because so many new employees are joining BNSF as conductors, 42 Transportation

trainers deliver training at 71 locations across BNSF’s system. To meet the increased

volume of training needed for Transportation, BNSF implemented cross-training

for all Transportation trainers. The trainers became qualified to train locomotive en-

gineers and conductors, as well as to provide training on simulators and rules and

remote train-control operations. In other words, the Transportation trainers are now

cross-functional, which has effectively increased training capacity while also expand-

ing individual trainers’ areas of specialty. The cross-functional approach allows BNSF

to efficiently meet the needs of the company, while still maintaining the integrity of

the core program with safety at the center.

Additionally, the Transportation team places significant energy into helping

transition new conductors. “Involvement begins during the initial interview sessions

when a supervisor communicates our safety vision along with safety expectations,”

says one of BNSF’s managers. The team also provides an overview of local terrain and

environmental extremes that a potential employee is likely to encounter. Montana is

a good example, where hiring is especially active. Trainers help employees understand

the challenges of operating through the mountains and in winter conditions.

Supervisors interact with trainees throughout the program, both in group set-

tings and one-on-one. To further integrate a new conductor, the division’s UTU

training coordinators established a day of enhanced safety training specific to loca-

tion, with plans to expand that training to a broader overview. Graduates of BNSF’s

conductor training say the training program is vital, and that they appreciate the high

priority placed on safety.

Managing Safety through Best Practices

The BNSF management team members who are responsible for the locomotive

engineer training program have identified numerous best practices for the trainers to

incorporate into their training. BNSF feels these best practices help the organization

meet its hiring goals while maintaining its focus on a safe, efficient, and accident-free

workplace.

Questions

1. What methods does BNSF use as part of its comprehensive training system for

new hires?

2. Explain the company’s team approach to training. How does cross-training the

company’s trainers benefit BNSF?

3. What is the purpose of explaining during interviews BNSF’s safety practices and

on-the-job working challenges?