A “culture of fear” at Canadian National Railway is making it difficult for employees to report safety violations that raise the risk of derailments and other accidents, a federal parliamentary committee says in a new report to the House of Commons.
The standing committee on transport says both the federal government and railways bear responsibility for a failure to meet safety standards that were implemented in 2001, and a consequent rise in major accidents since that time.
Living a lot closer to Mexico than to Canada, I have zero personal knowledge of the subject. However, I do note that this was a political report, by political appointees, to a political body. How many of them were knowledgeable, experienced railroaders - and what was their actual agenda.
Similar reports elsewhere were usually a prelude to clumsy, politically-driven attempts to expand regulation…
You’d be surprised how many knowledgeable, experienced railroaders happen to agree with the report. You’d also be surprised how many of these knowledgeable, experienced railroaders have been pulled in for statements and punished for reporting a safety hazard.