Emergency Response
Despite all the best efforts of pipeline companies and local communities, incidents do occur from time to time — pipeline companies have stringent emergency response procedures to protect public safety in case of incident.
All pipeline companies are required under federal law to “develop, regularly review and update as required, an emergency procedures manual” for each pipeline. The purpose of an emergency procedures manual or emergency response plan is to ensure a quick, effective response in case of emergency.
The emergency response plans are designed to protect the public from health effects and serious injury as well as to limit any damage to pipeline facilities and reduce impacts to the environment.
Emergency response plans are designed to address worst-case emergency scenarios. They identify potential hazards to the public and the environment and set out a chain of command and other systems to ensure an adequate response in case of emergency.
Provincial regulations provide direction as to the development and implementation of emergency response plans. For example, emergency response plans must:
- Be well organized to ensure responders know what to do in different circumstances;
- Coordinate activities among various industries, emergency services, governments and local authorities, and others with a role in responding to emergencies;
- Ensure timely and consistent communication with all parties involved in or potentially affected by the emergency;
- Clearly establish the roles and responsibilities of all responders;
- Identify a chain of command to avoid contradictory instructions;
- Increase public confidence in the ability of industry to handle emergencies.
CEPA members have comprehensive management systems to ensure that pipelines are operating properly. As an industry we take our responsibility for safety seriously. And it is working.