North Prairie Ag Recognized for Building a Strong Culture of Safety
Northern Plains Railroad (NPR) is proud to announce the first-ever recipient of its newly established Grain Elevator Safety Program Award, presented to North Prairie Ag of Nekoma, North Dakota.
The Grain Elevator Safety Program was created to recognize grain shippers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to safe operating practices and a strong culture of safety across their facilities.
“This initiative was championed by our Chairman, Gregg F. Haug, who believed it was important to recognize and encourage the safe work practices demonstrated by our grain shipping partners,” said Ryan Riskey, Superintendent of Safety for Northern Plains Railroad.
As part of the program, NPR’s Safety Culture Team evaluated multiple safety-related factors across its network, including:
- Clean, well-maintained elevator tracks free of hazards or debris that could impact railroad employees
- Properly secured switches and derail systems, with no rule violations observed
- Elevator employees demonstrating safe practices when operating rail equipment independently or alongside NPR crews
- A visible, consistent safety culture, including appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- No reported rail incidents involving the facility
“North Prairie Ag stood out for its consistent commitment to safety and operational excellence,” Riskey added. “We commend their leadership and staff for setting a strong example.”
In recognition of this achievement, Northern Plains Railroad will donate $1,000 to a local community charity on behalf of North Prairie Ag, reinforcing the shared commitment to safety, community, and responsible operations.
“This award reflects not only strong procedures, but a culture where safety is clearly a priority,” said Riskey. “We appreciate the partnership and look forward to continued success together.”
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