Reference no: EM132210803

Could not attach this as a file so here is the text. Need to fix any grammar mistakes, passive voice, use of "I" or "my" this is an application essay for a PHD program so that is the level of writing it needs to meet.

Railroading is my profession; started as an entry-level manager, and advanced relatively quickly to a senior management role. The railroad is a unique industry; it has a culture unlike any other. Safety is the most critical aspect of rail culture, everything in the rail industry starts and ends with safety. Keeping employees safe and injury-free seems intuitive and a simple process. Employee well-being is the primary objective, but safety in the rail industry is more complicated than just employee safety. 

Federal regulatory agencies, politics, finance, labor relations, public safety, and legal concerns are all factors, amongst others, in the rail safety culture. These internal and external influences drive the need for a safe work environment. Safety culture, employee safety, a safe workplace, those are broad terms and encompasses several aspects.

• Federal reportable injuries
• Severity of injuries
• Frequency of injuries
• General public injuries or property damage
• Damage to company equipment; dollar amount tied directly to bottom line revenue
• Legal and political liabilities
• Labor arbitrations', civil suit exposure

Each of these is a rail safety component in varying degrees, in many ways though, these are merely symptoms of unsafe employee work habits. The foundation and core principles of rail safety are rules compliance and employee attitude.

Rules compliance and worker attitude seem like simple concepts, they are not, and this will be the focus of my dissertation. How to make employees work safely? How to make employees want to work safely? What motivates an employee to comply or not comply with safety rules? What type of reward or recognition system will compel safe work habits? Are there societal factors that contribute to safety? Is it a generational issue? What is the best method for ensuring employees follow the rules and policies, fear of discipline or no-fault fixing? Does background, upbringing, education, personal goals, psychological history, and other traits lead to employees making unsafe choices that can cause bodily harm or death?

These and other questions are what I want to explore to determine, what truly leads to companies creating and sustaining a workforce that chooses to be safe. Based on this research, make logical conclusions that are tangible and utilized in the rail industry. Railroading can be a dangerous job; people have lost their lives due to making unsafe choices and not being rule compliant. From the locomotives, rail cars, track, tools, and equipment, it is all made of steel and unforgiving when it meets flesh. My charge is to determine why people make unsafe and potentially life-threatening choices, and what methods effectively motivate and reward safe performance.