What is a Rail Occurrence Follow-up (ROF)?

Owned by Magdalene Schifferer (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Apr 24, 2023
3 min read

What is ROF?

The Rail Occurrence Follow-up (ROF) app allows Regional Managers (RMs) and Rail Safety Inspectors (RSIs) to review TSB Occurrences (accidents and incidents – such as runaway train car with no damage, derailments) and conduct inspections with the railway to identify non-compliances.

What is an occurrence?

An occurrence is a transportation event (e.g. accident or incident) resulting directly from the operation of rolling stock.

Two types of occurrences:

Railway Accident:

  • A person is killed or sustains a serious injury

  • Rolling stock is involved in a collision, derailment or sustains damage

  • Accidental release of rolling stock that results in death, injury, evacuation or facility/track closure

Railway Incident:

  • Rolling stock is involved in a minor collision or derailment (no damages)

  • Risk of collision occurs between rolling stock

  • Track switch left in an abnormal position

  • Rolling stock is left on a track where it is unauthorized to be positioned or runs a stop signal

  • Unplanned or uncontrolled movement of rolling stock

  • Crew member is unable to perform their duties as a result of physical incapacitation

Rail safety in Canada at a glance

Source: https://tc.canada.ca/en/binder/6-rail-safety-statistics-glance

Number of Rail Occurrences 2013-2020

What is the purpose of ROF?

Rail Occurrence Follow-ups assist with the following activities:

  • Help to determine if further inspections are required

  • Ensure threats to safety are mitigated

  • Discover if the rail occurrence was the result of a non-compliance

  • Clarify and correct reported occurrence information (if needed)

  • Decide if further enforcement (e.g. fine) may be necessary

  • Identify issues for inclusion in annual RBBP activities

Challenges with the manual occurrence review process

Silos

  • Occurrence Review process is completed in silos by each region, and data collected is not visible Canada-wide in a single repository

Data Integrity

  • Railway occurrence follow-up activities are completed via email and Excel
    Excel workbooks often do not contain the most recent completed follow-ups
    Unknown amount of missing occurrence data over time due to incomplete submissions and inconsistencies

Inquiries from Media or Public

  • As Excel workbooks often do not contain the most recent completed follow-ups, making it difficult to respond to queries from the Minister’s Office or the public

  • No real-time reporting for ATIPs, Ministers and media requests

Risk Mitigation

  • Trend analysis of occurrences over time is almost impossible

  • Reporting on a Canada-wide and even regional scale is challenging

  • Difficult to use data for real-time reporting

  • Challenging to get a full picture of rule violations, corrective actions and their effectiveness over time

  • Unknown amount of missing occurrence data over time due to incomplete submissions and inconsistencies

ROF workflow

ROF Users