The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigates occurrences involving federally regulated pipelines anywhere in Canada. Since the TSB’s creation in 1990, Rail and Pipeline Investigations Branch investigations and Board recommendations have led to numerous safety advancements in Canada, including: emergency shutdown systems at compressor stations and standards for pipe manufacturing.
The TSB's team of experts has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of pipeline engineering, metallurgy, welding and control systems, as well as the pipeline regulatory environment. We have access to and use highly trained specialists and state-of-the-art equipment to examine and test pipeline components involved in occurrences in order to identify and confirm safety deficiencies. TSB pipeline investigators also serve on and actively participate in various government and industry committees, activities and forums in order to monitor trends and promote the safety messages resulting from our investigations.
Pipeline transportation occurrences in 2020
In 2020, there were 81 pipeline transportation occurrences reported to the TSB, none of which were accidents. This number is below the average number of occurrences for the previous 10 years, which saw on average 124 occurrences.
Of the 81 reported occurrences, 18 involved a release of product. This level of product release is far lower than the average of 88 per year over the previous 10 years.
There were no accidents, serious injuries or fatalities arising directly from the operation of any federally-regulated pipeline in 2020. There have been no fatal accidents on a federally regulated pipeline system directly resulting from the operation of a pipeline since the inception of the TSB in 1990.
2020 annual statistical summary on transportation occurrences in the pipeline sector