Amtrak 2010 Annual Report Download - page 39

Gauging Our EHS Sustainability Performance
Amtrak EHS Annual Report 2010 | 38
Environmental Training and Awareness
Amtrak provides environmental awareness training and regulatory compliance
training to employees whose job activities may have an impact on the environment.
Regulatory courses are typically delivered at the facility level by the field
Environmental Coordinator with support from the division Senior Environmental
Coordinator.
In 2010, the EHS department developed a new brochure, “A Guide to Amtrak
Environmental Programs,” for inclusion in all new employee information packages.
The brochure is also made available to employees at meetings and events such as
Employee Appreciation Day. The guide includes the Amtrak Environmental Policy;
a description of the EMS and its purpose; summaries of environmental programs
and sustainability initiatives; the environmental responsibilities of each employee;
and environmental resources and contact information.
The EHS department developed employee training modules for 2010 on current
environmental topics for the Transportation and Engineering departments for their
annual training programs and developed an environmental section for the
Mechanical department’s Safety Handbook, which is distributed to all department
employees.
Also in the works is a major revision and update of the General Environmental
Awareness course, which reviews Amtrak activities and compliance requirements
and employee responsibilities. New sections have been added to increase
employee awareness of current Amtrak goals and initiatives in the areas of climate,
fuel and energy management, new technologies, recycling, and other topics.
Public Health
In 2010, the Amtrak Public Health group continued its role of providing public
health and sanitation standards and monitoring food, water, and sanitation issues
throughout the Amtrak system.
Victor Zare served and continues to serve as Public Health Superintendent, with
John Parke serving as Director of Public Health Procedures and Assurance. Due
to the emergence of bedbugs and other biting insects in the lodging and
transportation industries, key activities of the group included the development and
implementation of proactive strategies for the inspection and treatment for these
types of insects, as well as the creation of Amtrak’s Biting Insect Protocol to
mitigate the risks associated with these pests. John Parke also continued to
oversee the rollout of an Amtrak/FDA-agreed Backflow Prevention Testing
Program (Phase One of three phases).