Initial Safety Advisories (July 2013)
| Transportation safety board (TSB) Recommendation |
Transport Canada Actions | |
|---|---|---|
SECUREMENT OF UNATTENDED LOCOMOTIVES |
Review all railway operating procedures to ensure that trains carrying dangerous goods are not left unattended on the main track. |
Completed Actions Issued an Emergency Directive that:
|
SECUREMENT OF EQUIPEMENT AND UNATTENDED TRAINS |
Review CROR Rule 112 and related railway special instructions to ensure that equipment and trains left unattended are properly |
Completed Actions Revised Canadian Rail Operating Rules with stricter requirements for unattended equipment.
Employees must:
|
TSB Initital Recommendations (Jan 2014)
| Transportation safety board (TSB) Recommendation |
Transport Canada Actions | |
|---|---|---|
TANK CARS |
Require all Class 111 tank cars used to transport flammable liquids to meet enhanced standards. |
Completed Actions Removed high-risk DOT-111 tanks cars from circulation.
Published a new safety standard for DOT-111 tank cars.
Completed pre-consultations with industry on a new class of tank car for transporting flammable liquids, the TC‑140.
|
FOR CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS |
Set strict operating criteria |
Completed Actions Established a two-person minimum for locomotive crews on trains carrying dangerous goods.
Introduced Railway Operating Certificate Regulations that require railway companies to hold a valid Railway Operating Certificate to operate on federally regulated railways in Canada.
Issued an Emergency Directive that requires all railway companies carrying dangerous goods to adopt minimum key operating practices, including speed restrictions for trains carrying dangerous goods, more inspection requirements on restricted rail routes, and risk assessments for rail transportation routes.
Extended the Emergency Directive for another 6 months (i.e. to April 23, 2015) to ensure that its safety measures are in place pending Transport Canada approval of all companies’ rules.
Issued a Ministerial Order that requires railway companies carrying dangerous goods to formulate and submit new rules on operating practices, for Transport Canada approval.
Introduced amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations that would require Class I and II rail carriers to report additional data to Transport Canada.
Published Railway Safety Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part II, establishing fines as an additional enforcement tool.
Issued an Order to companies with key routes, that they file their key route risk assessments with Transport Canada by December 1, 2014.
Published Railway Operating Certificate Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part II.
Published Transportation Information Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part II.
Actions in Development Approve the Rules Respecting Key Trains and Key Routes the Railway Association of Canada submitted on behalf of its member companies.
|
RESPONSE PLANS |
Require emergency response |
Completed Actions Required shippers to develop emergency response plans for trains transporting crude oil, ethanol, and certain other flammable liquids (even a single tank car).
Created a task force of municipalities, first responders, railways, and shippers to strengthen emergency response across the country.
Reviewed and approved new Emergency Response Assistance Plans, based on the April 23, 2014 requirement (plans in operation, expert teams ready to respond to any petroleum spill in place).
|
Final Report Recommendations (Aug 2014)
| Transportation safety board (TSB) Recommendation |
Transport Canada Actions | |
|---|---|---|
SECUREMENT |
Ensure safeguards are in place to secure unattended train cars and prevent runaways. |
Completed Actions Issued an Emergency Directive imposing stricter rules for securing unattended trains.
Updated the Canadian Rail Operating Rules with stricter requirements for unattended equipment.
Issued an additional Emergency Directive and Ministerial Order requiring rail companies to meet minimum requirements for handbrake application, handbrake effectiveness testing and other ways to physically secure trains.
Actions in Development Collaborate with industry and United States counterparts to research better braking systems.
Recruit additional specialized staff to strengthen oversight and to monitor compliance with the Railway Safety Act.
|
SYSTEMS (SMS) AUDITS |
Audit railways’ safety management systems frequently and in depth and |
Completed Actions Proposed Railway Safety Management System Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I to improve how railway companies develop, implement and assess their SMS.
Published regulations to enable Transport Canada to better enforce SMS regulations.
Increasing frequency of SMS audits, so that they are completed on a 3-5 year cycle.
Actions in Development Publish Railway Safety Management Systems Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part II.
Develop enhanced training for auditors, including clear directions for effective action when faced with any non-compliance or on-going safety issues.
Continue to develop enhanced inspector tools and industry guidance.
Recruit specialized auditors to enhance the effectiveness of the SMS audit program.
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Final Report Safety Advisories (Aug 2014)
| Transportation safety board (TSB) Recommendation |
Transport Canada Actions | |
|---|---|---|
DANGEROUS GOODS CLASSIFICATION |
Verify that dangerous goods being transported are properly tested and classified. |
Completed Actions Issued a Protective Direction requiring the retesting of the classification of crude oil.
Strengthened inspections and documentation for rail safety and transport of dangerous goods.
Ordered more frequent inspections of petroleum product transfer sites.
Actions in Development Conduct more research on crude oil properties, behaviours, and hazards.
Launch a risk-based targeted inspection campaign to verify the classification of rail shipments.
Recruit additional engineering and scientific expertise for TDG oversight capacity.
|
EMPLOYEE TRAINING |
Ensure employees at railways, particularly short lines, are properly safety trained. |
Completed Actions Required all railways (including short lines) to submit training plans for review.
Actions in Development Complete the review of the training plans to identify any gaps or specific concerns.
Conduct oversight activities focusing on training and qualification of railway employees.
|