The purpose of a system safety program is to improve railroad safety through structured, proactive processes and procedures developed and implemented by railroad operators that:

• Supports risk management and provides methods for evaluating and responding to all safety issues.
• Includes proactive hazard management methods that support continuous safety improvement.
• Ensures that applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations and safety requirements are identified and addressed.
• Represents the railroad’s safety philosophy and cultivates a robust safety culture from the most senior officer throughout all levels of the organization.