New federal rail, dangerous goods requirements announced

Federal transport minister Lisa Raitt has announced new requirements for railways – including those revolving around the transportation of dangerous goods – that seek to help build a stronger safety culture among railway companies, strengthen containment and help reduce the risk of accidents.

“The upcoming regulations will further strengthen safety in Canada’s already robust transportation system,” Raitt says in a statement issued Friday by Transport Canada.

The minister announced the requirements just days before the one-year anniversary of the deadly derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Que. In the early morning hours of July 6, a runaway Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway train carrying crude oil derailed in the small town about 100 kilometres east of Sherbooke, sparking explosions and a fire that ultimately claimed the lives of 47 people.

Transport Canada notes the new measures introduce amendments under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, and the Transportation Information Regulations. The key changes include the following:

• requiring 35 provincially regulated railway and light-rail companies operating on federal track to develop and implement Safety Management Systems;
• formalizing new DOT-111 tank car standards that will require thicker steel walls and other reinforcements to reduce the risk of spills on impact; and
• improving data reporting requirements for railways, requiring them to proactively identify and address safety risks before accidents happen.

Amendments will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II in July. For example, the new standard for the DOT-111 tank cars will apply to all newly manufactured tank cars built for petroleum crude oil service, notes a federal backgrounder from Transport Canada. “A safe means of containment – the container or packaging used to hold goods – prevents the release of dangerous goods that could endanger life, health, property or the environment under normal conditions of transport,” the information states.

“The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act divides dangerous goods into nine classes according to the type of danger they present. Shippers are responsible for classifying dangerous goods, completing documentation, selecting the proper means of containment and displaying dangerous goods safety marks on the container,” the backgrounder notes.

“Following the amendments, shippers will also be required to keep records for up to five years on the classification of dangerous goods and the sampling method used for crude oil. These classification changes will make it easier for inspectors to verify compliance with regulatory requirements,” it adds.