Abstract: Ground hazards associated with rail grades, embankments and cut and natural
slopes are a source of risk to railway operations. In 1996 Canadian National Railway (CN)
made a strategic decision to adopt a systematic risk based methodology to manage these
ground hazards. This paper describes CN’s methodology within the framework of CAN/CSA-
850-97, the accepted Canadian standard for risk management. A description is provided of
the primary elements of the strategy including; the CN Rockfall Hazard and Risk Assessment
(CNRHRA) system, the Beaver Activity Hazard Assessment (BAHA) system, the Earthquake
Notification (EQNS) System, weather reporting systems, and GIS information management
systems.
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