BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County — ArcelorMittal Liberia has honored four members of its Rail Department for exceptional vigilance, professionalism and courage after their quick response to a potential hazard on the company’s main railway line helped avert a serious safety incident.
Train Drivers Norman Chidarikire and Rynier McCabe, along with Train Assistants Stanley Mulbah and Horace S. Neppy, received special recognition during an Incident Prevention Safety Award Ceremony held in Buchanan.
The four railway professionals were commended for identifying a developing hazard during operations and taking swift, decisive action before the situation could escalate.
According to AML, their response helped protect lives, railway infrastructure and the company’s operations, underscoring the critical role employees play in maintaining safety even when procedures, systems and equipment are already in place.
During the ceremony, management praised the crew for remaining calm under pressure, following established safety procedures and applying sound professional judgment at a critical moment.
Felipe Lage, AML’s Rail General Manager, described the incident as a powerful demonstration of the alertness and dedication of the company’s railway workforce.
“This event is a testament to the alertness, skill, and dedication of our railway team,” Lage said. “Even under immense pressure, they kept their composure, followed proper procedures, and made the critical decisions that kept the situation under control.”
Lage said AML’s safety framework relies on multiple layers of protection, including procedures, operational systems and safety equipment. However, he stressed that trained and responsible employees remain a crucial final line of defense when other safeguards may not be enough.
“Procedures, systems, and safety equipment provide essential layers of protection, an architecture we must continuously strengthen as a whole,” he said. “But it’s equally important to pause and recognize moments like this one, when our people step up and become the decisive layer that stops a potential incident where others weren’t enough.”
Protecting More Than Company Assets
AML operates the railway linking its mining operations in Yekepa, Nimba County, to the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County. The rail corridor passes through numerous towns and communities and is critical to the transportation of iron ore and other operational materials.
The railway also intersects with communities, road crossings, workers, equipment and other infrastructure, making safety along the corridor a matter of both corporate and public responsibility.
Togar Carter, Buchanan Health and Safety Manager, said the crew’s intervention had implications far beyond protecting AML’s assets.
“They didn’t just help ArcelorMittal. They helped keep Liberian citizens alive and ensured they could return home safely to their families,” Carter said.
His remarks highlighted the broader human consequences of railway safety decisions, particularly along a corridor used by workers and members of the public.
Rail Crew Urged to Speak Up
The ceremony also gave the honorees an opportunity to encourage their colleagues to remain vigilant and honest about their readiness to work.
Train Assistant Horace S. Neppy urged railway employees to take fit-for-duty requirements seriously and speak up whenever they are not physically or mentally prepared to safely perform their duties.
“Always stay alert, and speak up if you’re not fit to work,” Neppy said.
His message comes as fatigue remains a key safety concern in railway operations, particularly during extended shifts and long-distance journeys.
In response, AML’s Rail Department is strengthening its fatigue-management measures, including the integration of in-locomotive driver alert systems designed to monitor and support driver alertness during extended mainline operations.
The technology is expected to provide an additional layer of protection for drivers, railway crews, communities, equipment and infrastructure.
AML said the investment forms part of its broader safety strategy, which combines technology, employee training, established procedures, personal responsibility and continuous operational improvement.
Safety Culture Underlined
The recognition of Chidarikire, McCabe, Mulbah and Neppy also sends a broader message across AML: employees who identify risks and act proactively to prevent incidents will be recognized and encouraged.
The company said it wants employees at every level to feel empowered to report hazards, speak up about safety concerns, follow procedures and take immediate action when potential danger emerges.
Management reaffirmed its commitment to continuous engagement with employees, investment in safety systems and improvements to railway procedures.
The ceremony concluded with AML emphasizing that safety extends beyond written rules and depends on daily vigilance, discipline, teamwork and the courage to act when danger emerges.
For the four honorees, their actions demonstrated how trained and alert employees can make a decisive difference—preventing harm, protecting critical infrastructure and helping ensure workers and members of surrounding communities return safely to their families.
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