Metrolink customer relations representatives prioritize safety while performing their duties onsite at LA Union Station.
From left: Eduardo Castillo, Jacob Bravo and Arnold Serrata.
Metrolink’s Customer Relations Team celebrated an exciting and noteworthy milestone this month – the team, which largely consists of frontline employees, achieved a sixth consecutive year without a reportable injury!
When asked what actions they take to remain vigilant and champion a working environment that places safety at the forefront, Customer Relations Representatives Arnold Serrata and Riley Smallwood shared a few basic tips that help keep their team safe on the job:
- When working on station platforms, be cognizant of the train tracks and any safety markings and signage.
- Always be aware of your surroundings in the tunnel at LA Union Station, where foot traffic is high and customers and personnel are moving in all directions.
- Communicate any safety concerns with station security and your teammates.
To congratulate our customer relations colleagues, Metrolink leaders and the larger Customer Experience Department held a recognition luncheon on Tuesday, April 8 in the East Portal office at LA Union Station.
“Rewarding and recognizing our employees for their efforts and these sorts of feats is important,” Chief Customer Experience Officer Lisa Bahr said. “It not only reinforces the safe behaviors we wish to see on the job, but we can also generate excitement among our customer relations team to look out for one another with this shared goal and culture in mind.”
Members of the Alstom car shop at Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility form the number eight in celebration of eight years without a workplace injury.
Meanwhile, another team that operates on Metrolink property is thriving in their injury-free workplace. The Alstom car shop, located onsite at Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility in Los Angeles, has not experienced a single reportable workplace injury in more than eight years. This team of 22 Alstom employees maintains the cab, coach and maintenance-of-way cars in Metrolink’s fleet. The group performs federal maintenance tasks and inspections in addition to corrective repairs on the cars, including work on HVAC systems, lighting, electrical circuits, door systems, restrooms, seating, wheels and damage sustained by the equipment, among other things.
“This milestone achieved by our mechanical contractor, Alstom, is a testament to the dedication and skill of our Metrolink car shop employees and their leadership,” Metrolink Maintenance of Equipment Director Emmanuel Valles said. “The team has consistently prioritized safety while maintaining efficiency, and together, we are setting a high standard for rail operations excellence.”
Hugo Martinez, who has served as a supervisor with Bombardier and Alstom for the last 20 years, has been a leading proponent of safety culture within the shop. Hugo frequently engages with all members of his workforce and encourages participation in the safety observation card process, where employees can share safe or at-risk activities they observe in their workplace. The information received is then distributed to all work groups the following day so that team members can learn from each other and correct unsafe behaviors or worksite conditions before they lead to an injury.