Canadian Safety Reporter

3 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2014 News | June 2014 | CSR Sweeping rail safety changes unveiled in wake of Lac-Mégantic Canadian Pacific calls for better regulation on human, behavioural factors BY SABRINA NANJI IN THE WAKE of the fatal, fiery train derailment in Lac-Mégan- tic, Que., the federal govern- ment is ramping up its rail safety policies. Prompted by recommenda- tions from a Transportation Safety Board (TSB) report, transport minister Lisa Raitt an- nounced sweeping changes to rail safety regulations at the end of April, effective immediately. "Transport Canada takes the safety and security of the railway and transportation of danger- ous goods systems seriously and is committed to ensuring that appropriate levels of safety are maintained," said Jana Régimbal, Minister Raitt's press secretary. As part of the changes, Trans- port Canada will remove the least crash-resistant DOT-111 tank cars from service. The DOT-111 tankers, considered the quintessential transporter of crude oil and ethanol, have been the focus of the TSB's spotlight for years — their ambiguities have sounded calls for tighter regulation for years. Current DOT-111 cars that do not meet the latest safety standards are also to be phased out or refitted within the next three years. As well, Transport Canada now requires emergency re- sponse assistance plans for even a solitary tank car carrying crude oil, gasoline, diesel, avia- tion fuel or ethanol. The federal government also intends to cre- ate a task force comprised of municipalities, first responders, railways and shippers together to strengthen emergency re- sponse capacities. Finally, railway companies will be required to reduce the speed of trains carrying danger- ous goods and implement other key operating practices. The move was sparked by a report from the TSB earlier this year, which looked into the causes of the deadly Lac-Mé- gantic explosion in which 47 people were killed after a run- away train carrying oil derailed. In it, the TSB recommended railway companies that trans- port dangerous material be required to conduct route planning and analysis, and an enhanced safety standard for the Class 111 (or DOT-111) tank cars. The board also sug- gested that emergency response assistance plans be established when large volumes of liquid hydrocarbons are being trans- ported across long distances and through urban areas. "I am encouraged by the Minister of Transport's strong response to the board's recom- mendations," said Wendy Tad- ros, chair of the TSB. "It is my hope these measures will reduce the risks identified in the Lac- Mégantic investigation and im- prove the safety of Canada's rail system." She added that the TSB will further study, assess and rate Transport Canada's responses to the recommendations. One recommendation that came down from the board has yet to be honoured by Ottawa — that rail operators go through route planning ahead of the shipment of dangerous items. To err is human While the changes were lauded by industry leaders, heavy- weight railway operator Canadi- an Pacific said the government should take a closer look at hu- man and behavioural factors. "Canadian Pacific has been a vocal proponent of increased tank care safety standards and we applaud the Minister of Transport's direction to elimi- nate the use of older tank cars," said Hunter Harrison, CEO of Canadian Pacific. "While we comply with all the orders, I must again re-iterate that re- ducing train speeds does not address the causes of railway ac- cidents, nor is it a solution to rail safety. "Human behaviours are a sig- nificant factor and should be the focus if the goal is to truly im- prove safety," he added. Using inward facing cameras Credit: TSB/Reuters First responders fight burning trains after a train derailment and explosion in Lac-Megantic, Que., on July 6, 2013, in this picture provided by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The driverless, runaway fuel train that exploded in a deadly ball of flames in the center of the small Quebec town killing 47 people. CP Rail > pg. 6

• Cover