Railway Association of Canada honors 2014 safety award winners

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) recognized four of its members for their outstanding contributions to rail safety. Representatives from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, VIA Rail Canada and The Roberval and Saguenay Railway Company accepted their awards at the association's Rail Day event in Ottawa, ON.

 

“When you look at data and the variety of safety efforts being recognized today, it’s clear why Canada’s railways – freight and passenger railways big and small – are safe and getting safer,” said RAC President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Bourque. “Congratulations to this year’s RAC Safety Award recipients.”

The annual RAC Safety Awards encourage Canada’s railway industry to adopt safe practices and to promote awareness of rail safety, to ensure that their networks remain among the safest in the world.

The 2014 RAC Safety Award winners include CN for its corridor risk-assessment initiative, which aligns with risk-reduction actions taken by the industry and regulators following the tragic accident in Lac-Mégantic, QB. CN’s initiative helps railways to assess risk more precisely through risk-reduction plans that include people, process and technology. Since starting the initiative in late 2013, CN has carried out assessments along core routes across its network.

CP earned the award for its Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR) User Manual for Train and Engine Employees. The manual aims to improve compliance with Transport Canada’s CROR by re-organizing rules based on specific scenarios. It is designed to give students and employees a better understanding of how to apply the rules during day-to-day railway operations.

The Roberval and Saguenay Railway won the award for promoting the Operation Lifesaver public-rail safety message on one of its railcars. The railway collaborated with art students at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi to design and paint the railcar, which is available for other railway companies to rent.

VIA Rail received the award for its Handling On-Train Service Workplace Accidents & Return to Work pilot program. The project aims to reduce the time between a workplace accident and an employee’s return to work. By collecting more accurate information on workplace accidents, VIA Rail has improved health and safety investigations, engaged employees and made VIA Rail a safer workplace.

 

 

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