ICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

November 25, 1990 Classifieds 986-6222 Office, Editorial 985-2131

Display Advertising 980-0511

SUNDAY

Spartans bring home swimming wins

SPORTS:

Distribution 986-1337

22

56 pages

ail disaster feared

CN union charges local safety being compromised

NEWS photo Stuart Davis

For the birds

NATALIE KIESSLING, 6, of Bowen [sland feeds a Whisky Jack some bread at the top of Grouse Mountain. Winter has arrived on the North Shore moun-

tains; the ski season can’t be far behind.

ALTA SE ONE Cae

THE GRIM likelihood of a serious accident involving railcars carrying hazardous goods along the North Vancouver waterfront has increased as a result of re- cent changes to train-brake inspections made by Cana- dian National Railways (CN), the union repre- senting CN workers has charged.

By Surj Rattan News Reporter

But CN officials have denied that safety is being compromised.

Stan Horodyski, national repre- sentative of the Canadian Auto Workers’ union (CAW), said in a News interview this week that CN trains are leaving the company’s North Vancouver railyard without their brakes being properly in- spected,

Trains, he said, are also arriving at CN's North Vancouver swit- ching yard from CN’s Thorton yard in Vancouver without having their brakes properly inspected.

Horodyski said the situation poses a special danger to the North Vancouver waterfront because of the many hazardous chemicals transported by rail to and from North Shore waterfront industries.

The North Shore waterfront receives approximately two-thirds of all dangerous goods shipped by rail in the Lower Mainland. Among the hazardous goods transported by train along the North Shore waterfront are chlo- rine, methanol, caustic soda, ethylene dichloride and liquid pet- roleum gas.

In an average 24-hour period, between 900 and 1,000 railcars travel between CN’s North Van- couver and Surrey yards.

“‘There’s been a lot of concern about this by the CN workers in North Vancouver. It’s only a mat- ter of time before something goes wrong,’’ said Horodyski. ‘‘lt’s densely populated on the North Shore. Yo: know the lay of the land. We're just God damned concerned that something will go wrong.”*

Horodyski has also written a letter tu Colin Churcher, director general of railway safety for Transport Canada, asking that the federal regulating body investigate the situation.

He said the problem with the new brake inspection system lies with the “transfer”? of brake tests,

Trains, he said, had been receiving a type ‘A’ transfer brake test at the North Vancouver yard. The work had been carried out by

44 [t’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong. 99

— CAW nationzi representative Stan Horodyski

“‘carmen’’ who would chech to see the brakes were in good working order before allowing the trains to leave the yard.

Horodyski said the brake tests are required unde: Transport Canada regulations.

But Horodyski said CN has now ‘‘down graded’’ those brake tests to a type ‘B’ transfer, “thereby reducing the safety standard of these transfers.”"

He added that the type ‘B’ transfer does not require carmen to inspect the brakes.

And Horodyski charged that the move is a ploy by CN to eliminate jobs.

“I chink they’ll use any excuse to cut labor. What better way than to eliminate safety factors? These transfers, on many occa- sions, involve up to 135 cars, many of which carry dangerous commodities over mainline usacks,’’ said Horodyski.

But CN Rail spokesman Marian Robson denied that safety is being compromised with the type ‘B’ transfer.

“The type ‘B’ transfer move- ment is the same type of move- ment (as type ‘A') only at speeds not greater than 15 miles per hour, with sufficient operative brakes to contro! the movement,’” said Robson. ‘‘The type ‘A’ transfer movement requires a brake test be performed before the movement is allowed to proceed. This involves setting and releasing of the train’s brakes in the presence of maintenance personnel who ensure the brakes are func- tioning properly. It is a slow, time-consuming procedure.”"

She added that Transport Canada has ‘‘upheld CN’s posi- tion.””

“The increased number of type “B’ transfer movements taking place within the Vancouver termi- nal in no way compromises safe- ty," said Robson.

Horodyski said he does not think Transport Canada will in- vestigate the situation.