Jake Awards

Starting with the calendar year 2005, the Safety Committee has revised the categories and criteria for the Jake Awards.

Categories

The new Jake Awards fall into two categories:

  • Jake Certificate - Awarded to any member railroad that finished the calendar year with a Frequency/Severity Index (FSI) Rate less than or equal to the industry average.
  • Jake Certificate with Distinction - Awarded to any member railroad that has no reportable injuries.

Criteria

All railroads must turn in their F6180.55 form, the Railroad Injury and Illness and Summary Form, to the FRA to be considered for the Jake Awards. No other steps are necessary.

History

In 1995, the Jake Award Program was created by, and named for Lowell S. "Jake" Jacobson, a previous recipient of Railway Age Magazine's Railroader of the Year. Jake started giving these awards, out of his own pocket, to recognize outstanding safety achievements in the short line railroad industry, which had gone unrecognized before.  In 1999, the ASLRRA Safety Committee adopted the Jake Awards, and since then, has continued Mr. Jacobson's legacy of rewarding and drawing attention to the high safety standards of the small railroad industry.

Thank you to our 2008 Safety Awards Program sponsors:
BNSF Railway               CSX Corporation               Norfolk Southern Corporation               Union Pacific

We also would like to give special recognition to the 2008 Jake Award Pin sponsors:

Zurich