The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 14 May 2018.
Employee injury
BCR Properties Ltd.
Roberts Bank Yard
Mile 16.8, Port Subdivision
Delta, British Columbia
The occurrence
On , at about 1200 Pacific Standard Time, a Toronto Terminals Railway switching crew was shoving 66 empty intermodal platforms onto the east leg track at Roberts Bank Yard in Delta, British Columbia. At the same time, 2 PNR RailWorks track workers were clearing snow from a switch on the same track. One of the track workers was struck by the leading platform of the movement and was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Media materials
News release
Inadequate safety watch training contributed to railway employee injury in Delta, BC in December 2016
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB launches investigation into the PNR RailWorks engineering employee injury at the Roberts Bank Yard in Delta, British Columbia
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the PNR RailWorks engineering employee injury at Roberts Bank Yard in Delta, British Columbia that occurred on 18 December 2016.
Investigation information
R16V0195
Employee injury
BCR Properties Ltd.
Roberts Bank Yard
Mile 16.8, Port Subdivision
Delta, British Columbia
Investigator-in-charge
Peter Hickli has been with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) since 2006. He holds the position of Senior Regional Investigator, Rail/Pipeline, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
During his time at the TSB, Mr. Hickli has been the investigator-in-charge (IIC) of 13 rail accident investigations, including a Class 2 investigation (R17V0096), and provided technical expertise on many others, including the Lac-Mégantic investigation (R13D0054).
Before joining the TSB, Mr. Hickli worked for BC Rail and Canadian National (CN) for 30 years. During that period, he served a four-year Carman apprenticeship and worked extensively in the mechanical departments at BC Rail and CN, both as a unionized employee and as a manager.
In the course of his career, Mr. Hickli has served as a member of derailment investigation teams and hazardous materials teams, as a hazardous materials technician and as an advanced tank car specialist.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.