(The Canadian Press circulated the following story on April 26.)
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. has created a new senior executive position responsible solely for safety.
The country’s biggest rail operator — beset by a past series of derailments including toxic spills — said yesterday that Paul Miller has been given the title of vice-president and chief safety officer.
Miller, previously vice-president of transportation services, will oversee all safety initiatives, including operating practices, regulatory affairs and risk management, CN said.
“All of our leaders in operations have significant safety responsibilities embedded in their roles,” said chief executive officer Hunter Harrison.
“But having an officer whose job is focused exclusively on safety will bring an added dimension of discipline and vision to our precision railroading model.”
Miller, a civil engineer with 28 years of operations and marketing experience at CN, will be in charge of the departments of safety, risk management and the environment, as well as the movement and handling of hazardous materials.
He will remain based in Edmonton.
A Transport Canada safety audit called for a comprehensive review of safety issues by CN’s senior management, along with better monitoring of risks and improved employee training.
A derailment in August 2005 sent bunker fuel into Lake Wabamum in Alberta.
Two days later, a train crash killed thousands of fish in the Cheakamus River, near Squamish, B.C.