In fact, it's the first part of our corporate vision to be the safest, most customer-focused and successful transportation company in the world. As a testament to the successful pursuit of this vision, Norfolk Southern has earned unprecedented recognition for safety. The hard work continues at Norfolk Southern to achieve even more difficult goals for employee as well as customer safety.
Norfolk Southern received in 2006 the E.H. Harriman Memorial gold medal award for employee safety for calendar year 2005— the seventeenth year in a row, which is an achievement unprecedented among Class I railroads. This distinction means Norfolk Southern's employees are the safest working employees in the rail industry. The award recognizes the lowest casualty rates per 200,000 employee-hours worked — a formula that takes into account fatalities, injuries and occupational illnesses reported to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Customers recognize the value of doing business with a company that will never put safety anywhere but first. By being the safest major railroad, Norfolk Southern has helped create a better, more competitive transportation industry.
Norfolk Southern's objective, however, is not to win awards, but to provide employees with a safe work environment and to exceed customers' expectations by delivering products safely, efficiently and on time.