BNSF’s Ed Chapman Receives AAR’s Holden-Proefrock Award
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently announced the 2014 recipient of the Holden-Proefrock Award is BNSF Railway’s Director of Hazardous Materials Ed Chapman. The award is presented annually to a person associated with the railroad industry who has made significant contributions to hazmat transportation safety throughout their career.
With more than 36 years in the rail community, Chapman has demonstrated an increased level of environmental excellence in BNSF’s environmental and hazardous materials programs. As a trained and certified hazmat responder, he has increased community awareness by providing hazmat training to enhance first responders’ proper response in the event of an incident.
“His efforts have truly helped improve hazmat transportation safety in North America,” said AAR Senior Vice President of Safety and Operations Robert VanderClute.
The Holden-Proefrock Award is named in honor of Roy Holden, a former AAR employee and a pioneer in tank car design and safety, and Art Proefrock, a former Hulcher Emergency Services employee who was a pioneer in hazardous materials transportation emergency response.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from my peers for progressing safer transportation of hazardous materials,” said Chapman. “It is especially meaningful to exemplify the same spirit as the award’s two namesakes, both of whom advanced techniques and education for handling hazardous materials events.”
The AAR also announced that six Class I railroads, including BNSF, recently received the 2013 TRANSCAER® National Achievement Award in recognition of their extraordinary efforts in support of the TRANSCAER® initiative. TRANSCAER® members consist of volunteer representatives from the chemical manufacturing, transportation, distributor and emergency response industries, as well as the government.
