Posted June 20, 2013 15:24:19 CDT

Critical Incidents Impact All Employees

by Mark Jones

Operating Managers Being Trained on Critical Incident Response

UP employees don’t usually begin their day anticipating a disturbing event such as a grade crossing accident. Unfortunately, critical incidents (CIs) occur almost daily across the UP system. These events have the potential to evoke powerful emotional reactions from the impacted employees. Following these events, employees need the company’s support and resources so they can return safely to their assignments.

For operating managers participating in Annual Operating Training, rollout for CI Response training began in January 2013. "This training for operating managers emphasizes both a caring and standardized process for responding to employees involved in events such as crossing accidents and pedestrian suicides," said Manager Employee Support Services, Harry Stewart. “We do a great job of Peer to Peer and EAP response, so getting managers involved in the best practices for supporting crews takes our CI response to a new level.”

"In the CI Training, managers receive coaching on how best to communicate with employees involved in a potentially traumatic event. They learn that employee needs are a manager's top priority following a CI," said Stewart.

During the third quarter, training will be delivered using an interactive Web-based format. The training platform will have several scenarios, so managers can practice and build skills to support the affected employees.

“The response to the training has been very favorable” said Mark Jones, director of EAP and Peer Support. “Managers value direction and guidance and this training guides them to respond in a way that is consistent with UP values. Managers are impacted by responding to CIs, and this training highlights the need to respond supportively to them as well.”