Chair warns of persistent risks that are 'complex and long-standing issues' but 'are not unsolvable'
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) releases its latest Watchlist, underscoring the need for stronger action on persistent and emerging safety issues in the nation’s air, marine, and rail sectors. Despite years of investigation and numerous recommendations, the TSB finds that “serious, and often preventable, occurrences continue to happen,” putting people, property, and the environment at risk.
“These are complex and long-standing issues, but they are not unsolvable. Real progress requires leadership, accountability, concerted efforts, and sustained action by both industry and regulators,” says TSB chair Yoan Marier. The Watchlist highlights seven systemic safety issues and introduces substance use as an emerging concern, reflecting a growing risk of drug and alcohol impairment, particularly in marine and rail.
Fatigue management, safety management, and regulatory surveillance remain cross-modal challenges. “For fatigue, new regulations have been implemented in air, and we are currently watching the effect of these regulations through our investigation. For marine and rail, a lot of what we are seeing is related to awareness, fatigue awareness,” Marier explains. He adds Transport Canada must require and follow up with operators on fatigue management plans and safety management systems, noting, “they still present a high risk to the transportation system, which is why they need to stay on the watch list.”
Marine: Commercial fishing and safety culture
Commercial fishing safety remains a top concern. Marier calls it “a difficult one to resolve because it does require sort of everyone to get on board.” He points to the need for coordinated action among federal and provincial authorities. “There needs to be a change in safety culture in the industry. And we are starting to see some movement on that, but progress is slow,” he says.
The TSB urges more uniform adoption of safety practices, such as the mandatory wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs), which is required in New Brunswick but not nationwide. “We are very happy to see New Brunswick implement this requirement. It’s not something that is uniform across Canada, but if it concerns occupational health and safety, it falls under provincial authorities,” Marier notes.
Marier also highlights gaps in safety management: “Small fishing vessels are not required to have [a safety management system]. So, it does require people working on these vessels to take safety management in their own hands because they are not required to have an SMS in place.”
Rail: Signal compliance and systemic oversight
While the TSB removes unplanned and uncontrolled rail movements from the Watchlist due to significant progress, other issues persist. Notably, crews failing to recognize and follow signal indications remains a critical risk. “It can happen for multiple reasons. Crews can be distracted, they can be tired, and for one reason or another, they will miss a signal on the side of the railway, which can lead to a derailment, a collision between two trains. So, the consequences can be catastrophic,” Marier warns.
The TSB calls for interim measures and a long-term solution akin to the U.S. positive train control system. “Transport Canada is looking at developing a Canadian version of positive train control, which in Canada would be called ETC, enhanced train control. But before it’s put into place, we’re looking at years down the road,” Marier says, estimating a five-to-ten-year horizon if work begins immediately.
On regulatory oversight, Marier stresses the need for follow-up: “Transport Canada surveillance needs to identify the non-compliances and more importantly, they have to make sure that operators are brought back into compliance when something is identified. So, it requires a follow-up to make sure that operators are brought back into compliance and can manage their safety themselves.”
Air: Runway incursions and overruns
Runway incursions and overruns remain stubbornly high, with 639 incursions recorded in 2024—the highest in 15 years. Marier explains, “A runway incursion is when an aircraft that is not authorized to go on a runway goes on a runway… That creates a risk of collision.”
Addressing overruns, Marier points to gaps in Canadian regulations: “The regulations in Canada related to RESA, runway and safety areas, they don’t match what the international standard requires. It’s a path that Transport Canada decided to take, but it’s not in compliance with the international standard.”
While some operators voluntarily implement safety management systems, Marier cautions, “if it’s not required then it’s not going to be audited. So, there is a gap there… there’s still a potential for missed opportunities.”
The TSB’s Watchlist signals that while progress is possible, persistent and emerging risks demand.
