TSB 2.0


The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has recently unveiled a much more elaborate web presence and communication strategy. Over the last decade, they appeared to have taken a low profile. In 2013, it is now fully embracing web 2.0, and the TSB is opening itself up like never before. The new website is visually stimulating, and navigating is easy and straightforward; a novel concept for typical government websites. It offers information about the latest occurrences and reports on various accidents in the various modes of transport it investigates – Pipeline, Air, Marine, Rail.

On the home page, there is a headlines and reports section; easy links to “report an accident”, and their priority issues, along with the usual housekeeping stuff. In expanding their message’s reach they also have a Twitter feed on the home page, announcing latest news and dispatches.

From the main homepage, you can visit the individual areas of focus for the TSB, including the Marine Area. In this area, you will find their watch list issues – Safety Management System, and fishing boat fatalities and how they are focusing on them. You will also find the latest marine accident report, ongoing investigation, statistics, and their recommendations resulting from the various accidents.

I have always admired TSB’s marine investigation reports because they appear to be truly focused on finding root causes, and then asking why. Many investigations around the world seem solely focused on finding a quick culprit, hopefully one person, and then simplistically feeding that person to the wolves, despite their mandate not to do exactly that.

Also new, is the TSB Recorder - their new blog - using plain speak to communicate their work and findings. On the Blog you’ll find an interactive map of Canada with recent occurrences and linking them to their Flicker Page, displaying photos of various accidents and the investigation process. One of the recent entries on the TSB Recorder is about the investigatory challenges, during the Sedna Desgagnes grounding at the Prescott Bridge, on the St Lawrence River.

The TSB also has a YouTube channel for the video-philes out there; featuring many computerize recreation of various accidents and supporting multimedia. The TSB’s Flickr account features accident pictures from the various accidents it investigates. One of the latest uploads being the Cape Apricot, which ran into Deltaport Terminal pier, in late December.

If you have not been in a while, which I would not have blamed you in the past, I would highly recommend you drop by now. The website is well designed and appears to have a genuine want to communicate effectively, which is a refreshing idea for the federal government. Congratulations TSB; keep up the good work. Of course, it is available in both official languages, and you can find it the main site from www.tsb.gc.ca.

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