Rail transportation

Table 1.

Safety communications related to TSB investigation R17W0267 – December 2017 employee fatality in Melville, Saskatchewan

The occurrence

On 22 December 2017, at about 1800 Central Standard Time during hours of darkness, a Canadian National Railway Company (CN) foreman and a helper were performing switching operations at CN’s Melville Yard in Melville, Saskatchewan.

TSB statistics on unplanned/uncontrolled movements

From 2009 to 2018, there were 562 occurrences reported to the Transporatation Safety Bord of Canada (TSB) related to unplanned/uncontrolled movements among all railways in Canada.

Table 1.

Safety communications related to TSB investigation R17W0267 – December 2017 employee fatality in Melville, Saskatchewan

The occurrence

On 22 December 2017, at about 1800 Central Standard Time during hours of darkness, a Canadian National Railway Company (CN) foreman and a helper were performing switching operations at CN’s Melville Yard in Melville, Saskatchewan.

Findings from TSB investigation R17W0267 – December 2017 employee fatality in Melville, Saskatchewan

Investigations conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are complex since an accident rarely results from a single cause. In the case of the Melville, Saskatchewan, accident on 22 December 2017 several factors led to the uncontrolled movement and employee fatality. The 9 findings below detail the causes and contributing factors that led to this occurrence.

Uncontrolled movement of rolling stock related to TSB investigation report (R16T0111)

The occurrence

On 17 June 2016, a Canadian National Railway (CN) crew was performing switching operations using a remote control locomotive system (known as a Beltpack) in MacMillan Yard, located in Vaughan, near Toronto, Ontario. The crew was pulling 72 loaded cars and 2 empty cars southward from the yard toward the York 3 main track, in order to clear the switch at the south end of the Halton outbound track, when it lost control of the cars.

Safety communications related to TSB investigation (R16T0111) into the June 2016 uncontrolled movement of rolling stock at MacMillan Yard, Vaughan, Ontario

The occurrence

On 17 June 2016, a Canadian National Railway (CN) crew was performing switching operations using a remote control locomotive system in MacMillan Yard, located in Vaughan, near Toronto, Ontario.

Uncontrolled movement of rolling stock at MacMillan Yard near Toronto, Ontario, June 2016

Investigations conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are complex – an accident is never caused by a single factor. The June 2016 uncontrolled movement of railway cars at MacMillan Yard in Vaughan, Ontario, was no exception. Many factors contributed to the accident, the details of which are contained in the 11 findings as to causes and contributing factors. The investigation established 6 additional findings, including 3 findings as to risk.

Examples of design and safety features to improve railway crossings

Research shows that improving level crossing accessibility for individuals who use wheelchairs improves safety. Possible measures to improve crossing accessibility include the following: