Location: National
Summary of Issue/Background
- Since 2003, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has called for the installation of recording devices in locomotive cabs to assist in post-accident investigations.
- The installation of recording devices in locomotive cabs will strengthen the rail safety regime by providing data about employee actions that is not currently available for accident investigations. In addition, proactive analysis of the data from the recorders will help to identify and mitigate risks before accidents occur. Finally, regulations to require the installation of recording devices will address two outstanding TSB recommendations and a previous Watchlist item.
- Since fall 2016, Transport Canada (TC) has met with key stakeholders to determine the technical requirements for these voice and video recorders, as well as the protocols needed to safeguard the privacy rights of railway employees.
- In May 2018, Bill C-49, The Transportation Modernization Act, amended the Railway Safety Act to mandate the installation of voice and video recorders in the locomotive cabs of federally-regulated railways to further enhance the safety of the rail transportation system in Canada.
- TC’s proposed Locomotive Voice and Video Regulations (LVVR) were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in May 2019 and reflect careful consideration of the best way to maximize safety benefits, while safeguarding the privacy rights of railway employees.
- Following the publication of LVVR, TC received comments from stakeholders that are currently being analyzed. TC will conclude discussions with stakeholders to address any outstanding comments by the end of 2019, and concerns will be addressed as necessary through proposed adjustments to the final regulations published in Canada Gazette, Part II in 2020.
- The proposed regulations could be ready for publication in Canada Gazette, Part II in May 2020.