The Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C³RS) is a partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), participating railroad carriers and labor organizations. It is designed to improve railroad safety by collecting and studying reports detailing unsafe conditions or events in the railroad industry. Employees can report safety issues or “close calls” voluntarily and confidentially. By analyzing these events, potential life saving information can be obtained and can help prevent more serious incidents in the future.

NASA will use the expertise it has gained from developing and managing the highly successful Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to administer the C³RS program. NASA has operated ASRS since 1976 and has received over 900,000 reports from the aviation community. In that time ASRS has made numerous contributions to aviation safety without violating the confidentiality of a single reporter. NASA is an independent, respected research organization that does not have regulatory or enforcement interest. It therefore serves as an “honest broker” that is an objective and trustworthy recipient of reports submitted by railroad professionals.