The TSB and First Responders

Presentation to Fire-Rescue 2010Martin Lacombe, Member

Transportation Safety Board of Canada

September 21, 2010St. John, New Brunswick

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Outline

• About the TSB• First responders, expectations• On-site problems, solutions• Mode-specific challenges• Question and answer

About the TSB

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TSB Offices

• Head office in Gatineau, Quebec

• Engineering laboratory in Ottawa, Ontario

• Regional offices across the country:

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• Vancouver, British Columbia• Calgary, Alberta• Edmonton, Alberta• Winnipeg, Manitoba • Toronto, Ontario• Montréal, Quebec • Québec, Quebec • Halifax, Nova Scotia

TSB Investigations

• 4000+ occurrences reported annually

• 65 in-depth investigations started in 2009

• We do not determine civil/criminal liability• We do not investigate military or criminal

occurrences

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TSB’s Methodology

• Safety critical information communicated to stakeholders immediately

• Various safety communications address different levels of risks

• Recommendations address systemic issues posing the highest risk

TSB Communication—Outreach

• Safety Watchlist• Interviews• Speeches• Newspaper

articles• Conferences

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Fishing vessel safety

Emergency preparedness on ferries

Passenger trains colliding with vehicles

Operation of longer,heavier trains

Risk of collisions on runways

Controlled flight into terrain

Landing accidents and runway overruns

Safety Management Systems

Data recorders

WATCHLIST

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Reportable Occurrences* and FatalitiesAverage per year per mode, 2005-2009

Occurrences Fatalities

Air 1050 59

Marine 658 18

Pipeline 90 None

Rail 1501 85

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TOTAL 3299 162

Who is a First Responder?

• Fire departments• Police• Search and rescue• Emergency services, ambulances• Coroners• Hazmat

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What are the Prioritiesfor First Responders

• What are you getting into?

• Protection of people

• Protection of property / environment

• Prevent loss of clues / evidence

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Key Actions

• Safety of public, property, environment• Secure the site• Preserve the evidence• Survey/document the site• Collect witness names• Refer media to appropriate representative• Contact CANUTEC• Contact Transportation Operator / authorities

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Problems on Site

• Who does what?• Returning the site to operability• Availability of appropriate expertise• Size of accident• Information lost/not shared• Accommodation

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Solutions?

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TSB Powers and Authority

The CTAISB Act allows us to:– Enter an area and restrict access

– Seize wreckage/ impound equipment

– Compel witness interviews

– Obtain search warrants

– Require medical/coroner’s examinations

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Liaising with on-site Command

• We’re not first responders

• We’re not operators

• People may not know who we are

• The “get out of my way” approach isn’t very helpful

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TSB Communication—at the Site

• Investigator in charge (IIC) briefing on the status of emergency operations, hazards, and any dangerous goods

• Consult with other agencies: Has the site been inspected? Is it safe?

• IIC communicates which areas of the site are to be under TSB authority

• Possible interviews with first responders

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Privileged Information

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Modal challenges (Marine)

• Securing the site• Ship design/access to cargo• Identifying products• Amount of cargo• Experience of 1st responders

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Modal Challenges (Pipeline)

• Liaising with all groups at the site

• Managing and sharing information

• Restoring operability

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Modal Challenges (Rail)

• Incident Command system• Dangerous cargo• Amount of cargo• Identifying products• “Residual” doesn’t mean “empty”• Various types of rolling stock

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Modal Challenges (Air)

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Modal Challenges (Air)

• Finding the site• Accessing the site• Wreckage retrieval• Dangerous wreckage

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Summary

• TSB goals• Our reliance on first responders• Liaising with on-scene command

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QUESTIONS?

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