US rail services giant Burlington North Santa Fe (BNSF) has hosted a train derailment emergency response course in Lovell, Wyoming.

Speaking to local emergency response teams, training supervisor Ed Chapman explained that in addition to the personal safety risks posed by derailments, it was also important to develop response procedures for handling hazardous materials such as ethanol and other petroleum products that may have been in transit.

The Lovell Chronicle reports that Chapman told attendees that the first point of action upon reaching a derailment was to find the train's crew and read through the train log to establish whether any hazardous materials are being transported.

Doing so will allow emergency response teams to assess the primary hazards involved, he said.

In its annual report published in January, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer Matthew K Rose told shareholders that the company had enjoyed its best on-time performance in more than five years, despite the risks and delays associated with the severe weather conditions seen in 2008.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development