Transport minister orders new fatigue rules amidst oil-by-rail ramp-up
Transport Minister Marc Garneau has ordered rail companies to update rules to address employee fatigue.
Requirements on work-rest periods for rail workers, introduced in 2002 with only minor revisions since then, should reflect the latest science and fatigue management practices, Garneau said.
“We now have a better understanding of the extent to which fatigue can affect human performance and ultimately compromise railway safety. We need to make changes now,” Garneau said in a release.
The new rules should address issues such as shift length, minimum rest periods and advance notice for work schedules, he said.