(The Railway Association of Canada issued the following on October 6.)
VANCOUVER, B.C. — CN’s Dangerous Goods Team has won the Railway Association of Canada’s 2008 Safety Award for their efforts to improve contact and communications with emergency responders in the field.
The program started in British Columbia two years ago when the Port of Prince Rupert was being expanded to handle import/export container traffic. Communities felt CN’s Emergency Response presence had room to grow, and believed they lacked sufficient training and equipment in the event of a railway derailment.
CN partnered with Channel Solutions and Quantum Environment to develop and deliver an on-line two-day training program for responders through six hub sites in B.C. They offered the program to 120 municipal responders in 36 communities.
Cliff MacKay, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, said: “The project is a smart way to invest in the safe, secure transport of dangerous goods by rail. It fosters open communications and builds partnerships with local communities resulting in better emergency preparedness and planning. They hope to build on it system-wide.”
“It is difficult for volunteer firefighters to leave their jobs for up to a week or more for emergency response training,” said Terrace Fire Chief Peter Weeber. “As well, rural fire departments have limited financial resources to provide this type of training to their brigade.
“When I think back to the first meeting in Smithers, B.C., I have to admit I could never have imagined a large corporation taking our concerns as seriously as CN did. The online component was flexible and key to meeting the needs of both volunteer and career departments.”
Brian Lockhart, regional director for British Columbia of Canada’s Chemical Producers, commended the company for their initiative and supports their ongoing efforts.
REACT, or Responder Education Assistance and Certification Training, is tailored to rural communities, and this type of partnership between a transportation company and communities is unique in North America.
The annual Safety and Environmental Awards program was created in 2005 by the Railway Association of Canada, which represents some 55 freight and passenger railways, to encourage workers to adopt safe, environmental practices and operational techniques. They transport 75 per cent of surface freight in the country, move 67.9 million passengers annually and generate only three per cent of the country’s transportation greenhouse gas emissions.