A group of railroad contractors in orange safety gear gathers at night near train tracks, illuminated by bright lights, with vehicles parked nearby.

Safety

Safety

At Universal Rail, our commitment to prioritizing safety extends far beyond mere compliance with rules and regulations. We firmly believe in fostering a culture of safety that permeates every aspect of our organization. This involves instilling a mindset of unwavering vigilance and personal responsibility in each and every employee, from the executive level to the frontline workers.

We recognize that cultivating a dynamic Safety Culture is not just a goal, but a fundamental necessity for ensuring the well-being of our workforce, delivering exceptional service to our customers, and fortifying the long-term success and resilience of our organization.

Three construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests stand outdoors in front of heavy machinery. One man points at a clipboard while the others look on, suggesting a review of railroad construction plans.

Safety Culture

Universal Rail’s Health and Safety culture comes to life through employee-led campaigns, programs, and continuous training at all levels to ensure that our employees have the necessary knowledge and resources to work safely and responsibly.

A group of people sits at round tables in a conference room, watching a presenter speak in front of a projector screen displaying the question, Why are we here today?, as they discuss key topics in railroad engineering.

Safety Culture

Annual Safety Summits
Joint Health and Safety Committees
Railway Association of Canada (RAC) Safety Steering Committee Participation
Railway Association of Canada (RAC) Safety Culture Assessment Participants
Weekly Safety Moments
Annual Rail Safety Week Family Campaign
Values in Action Employee Recognition Program
Annual Safety Leadership Awards

A white Universal Rail Systems truck, used by railroad contractors, is parked in a lot. A man is inside the truck while another, wearing a safety vest and helmet, stands nearby next to a curb and trees.

Safety Management System

Web-based integrated safety management software (DATS)
Offline app reporting and resource support for crews
Real-time Near Miss Reporting program
Real-time Employee Qualification Profile Access
Incident Response & Investigation System (IRIS) Protocol
Systematic Cause Analysis Technique (SCAT) Root Cause Methodology
Safety Communication Protocol (Stand Downs, Flashes, Alerts, Bulletins)
Driver and Equipment Safety Management Program

Two workers in orange safety vests and helmets use tools to repair or maintain railroad tracks on a rocky rail bed, with yellow maintenance vehicles in the background under a blue sky—skilled railroad contractors at work.

Competency Development

Annual Safety Orientation Program
Track Tool Mentoring Program
Track Protection Development program
Switching Mentoring Program
On-the-Job Mentoring Program
Supervisory Development Program
Track Inspection Training
Certified Equipment Training
Certified Equipment Safety Training
Canadian Railway Operating Rules (CROR) Training
Defensive Driving
NSC Driver Training
Policy & Procedure Training
Safety Advisor Certification

A man wearing a blue hard hat, glasses, and a neon orange safety shirt sits in a vehicle, holding a pen and clipboard, smiling at the camera—a dedicated professional in railroad maintenance.

Compliance & Monitoring

Corporate Quality Manager
Veriforce Supported Subcontractor Safety Management Program
Annual National Safety Code (NSC) Audit
Corporate Safety KPI Scorecard
Automated Compliance Status Alerts (DATS)
Incident Management Review Committee
Certificate of Recognition (COR)
ISO 45001 Ontario
Ten Safety Laws
Rail Safety Week

10 Safety Laws

Safety – 10 Laws – English Download