MEMO
May 13, 2014
Re:
Significant Near Miss at Cabot Canada Ltd. Kenny Street Rail Crossing
On Friday, March 28, 2014, at approximately 8:00 a.m., a significant near miss occurred on Kenny Street
at Cabot Canada Ltd.’s rail crossing.
A tanker truck carrying 5,000 gallons of calcium stearate was turning right onto Kenny Street from
Tashmoo Avenue to make a delivery to the LanXess Butyl Plant. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign
and the flashing red rail lights that indicate Cabot is shunting railcars. The train missed the tanker truck;
but only by a few feet.
The consequence of these two vehicles colliding could have led to catastrophic events, specifically;
several significant injuries or fatalities, chemical release to the Kenny Street ditch triggering the need to
close down-river water intakes, significant property damage and negative publicity.
The intersection at Kenny Street and Tashmoo Avenue is not the best design, a design further
complicated by the presence of a rail crossing. Adherence to traffic laws is a must for everyone’s safety.
The law requires vehicles to stop at a rail crossing when lights are flashing. Only after confirming it is
safe to cross, do you proceed.
As a result of this incident, the tanker truck driver was terminated from his employment.
Cabot Canada Ltd. and LanXess are working with multiple stakeholders reviewing and improving the
safety of this intersection.
Please direct any questions to Christa Morphew, Safety Health & Environmental Manager at
christa.morphew@cabotcorp.com.