Internalizing safety
s p e c ia l se c ti o n SUMMER SAFETY SERIES - PART ONE {Passengers & Personnel}
First Transit’s down-up culture means employees care about getting it right By Richard Tackett
Thomas Harris was most struck by the bus industry’s attention to safety and regulation when he stepped into his role as First Transit and First Services’ vice president, safety and human resources, one year ago. “I was surprised that the industry is as regulated as it is,” Harris says. “I made the assumption that the aviation industry would be more regulated than over-the road transportation. That’s probably a bias - but you stand a higher chance of harming the public, with the millions of miles that you run per year, with a bus operation.” Harris joined FirstGroup America, Cincinnati, OH, which provides busing and maintenance services to municipalities, school districts and the general public throughout North America, in May 2010 as a senior attorney. He previously worked for Comair where he handled risk management and compliance. “The FTA and FMCSA are just as strong and necessary as any of the FAA standards, and First Transit follows those to the letter,” Harris says. According to Harris, engaging employees is the best practice for improving a company’s
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BUSRIDE | J UNE . 2013
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