AAR Honors 15 Hazmat Safety Leaders

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has presented its annual hazardous materials (hazmat) safety awards to 15 industry leaders.

Ron Gould, a senior hazmat response manager with 45 years of rail experience, received the 2020 Holder-Proefrock Award. As a contractor, he has supported the industry’s response to railroad emergencies and assisted with training first responders, railroad employees and contractors.

“A recognized industry leader and mentor, Gould has been called on to coordinate response operations for countless incidents over the years,” AAR said. “During his time in hazardous material response, he has played a key role in the response and clean-up of derailments up and down the East coast, including the 2001 Howard Street derailment in Baltimore [Maryland], and the 2015 derailment in Mt. Carbon [West Virginia].”

The award is named in honor of Roy Holden, a former AAR employee and an innovator in tank car design and safety, and of Art Proefrock, a former Hulcher Emergency Services employee who pioneered hazmat transportation emergency response.

AAR’s 2019 NAR Grand Slam Award goes to 14 “exemplary” hazmat shippers. To be considered for this award, recipients must have been recognized by at least four Class I railroads and have had zero non-accident releases involving their shipments the previous calendar year.

The recipients are: ADM, The Andersons Inc., Cenovus Energy Marketing Services Ltd., The Chemours Company, Cornerstone Chemical Co., Elbow River Marketing Ltd., ERCO WORLDWIDE, ExxonMobil, HJ BAKER SULPHUR LLC, Husky Energy Inc., Kemira, Keyera Energy Inc., Methanex Methanol Company LLC, and NGL Supply Co. Ltd.

In other news: CSX and Norfolk Southern recently honored customers for their commitment to the safe transportation of hazmat.