Two hand brakes more would have avoided the tragedy

Photo Agence QMI, Audré Kieffer
The driver of the train that exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Thomas Harding, remains impassive during the trial that takes place at the courthouse of Sherbrooke.

Caroline Lepage

Thursday, 12 October, 2017 22:38

UPDATE
Friday, 13 October, 2017 00:30

Look at this article

SHERBROOKE | The ex-assistant director of railways of the MMA said that it would have had to apply a minimum of nine hand brakes instead of seven, which would have probably prevented the descent deadly of the oil train at Lac-Mégantic.

If it relies on the rules that determine the number of hand brakes depends on several factors, the former assistant director of railways to the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA), Michael Horan has estimated that it would have had to put nine, at a minimum, the oil train that exploded in Lac-Mégantic on the night of July 6, 2013.

“I can’t tell if it was enough or not. I have not tested “, a-t-he be obliged to add, during the seventh day of the trial of the ex-employees of the MMA, Tom Harding, Richard Labrie and Jean Demaître, accused of criminal negligence causing the death of 47 people.

Photo By Caroline Lepage

Michael Horan,
Witness

According to the Crown prosecutors, Mr. Harding applied seven handbrakes when he parked his train of oil on a slope in Nantes, france, July 5, 2013, before leaving for the night. They feel that this number is clearly insufficient.

Mr. Horan did not recall whether an audit had already been made by Mr. Harding, in the past, to evaluate whether he applied sufficient hand brakes when he secured the train at this place. During his cross-examination, he was assured, however, have tested other employees on the number of hand brakes to apply.

At this time, the driver had to stop his long oil train to Nantes because it lacked sufficient space in Lac-Mégantic, where the rail yard was too small.

When the tragedy of July 2013, Mr. Harding was the only responsible on board of the heavy convoy. To the MMA, he was relatively new to let one man drive a train at Nantes. Previously, there had always been two. The MMA reproduced and the model that it had implemented in the United States.

Decrease approved

Transport Canada had authorized the reduction to a conductor, and this has created apprehension among some employees. According to Mr. Horan, the MMA merely add a mirror on the driver’s side of the locomotives to replace the employee that is missing.

In addition, the former assistant explained that no training had followed him, there about four years ago, the late adoption of the System of management of safety (SGS) of the MMA, which frames the risks.

Mr. Horan said he has received little support from his company to the development of staff, and that he has never received a budget.