Compliance verification activity type: Emergency Response Exercise
Team:
Regulated company: Champion Pipe Line Corporation Limited
Operating company: Énergir
Province(s) / Territory(s):
Discipline(s):
Related events:
Rationale and scope:
Verify that Champion Pipeline is prepared to handle emergencies and disasters on its gas line. Verify that the actions taken are consistent with the emergency response manual. Confirm whether the procedures used are capable of protecting the lives of the public and stakeholders, in addition to protecting the environment, property and critical infrastructure. Moreover, it will be necessary to confirm whether the exercise objectives were met, and to evaluate the effects or potential effects resulting from the actions or inactions of participants. Ensure Champion is prepared to respond to an emergency. Verify that response actions are based on the EPM and company procedures (is the company doing what it said it would do); assess whether the EPM and procedures protect the health and safety of the public and responders, property and the environment; determine whether exercise objectives were met; and ensure that no effects or potential effects result from participants' actions or lack of actions.
Compliance tool(s) used:
Facilities:
Facility Types
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
Observation 1 - Virtual centre nomenclature
Date & time of visit: 2022-06-07 08:00
Discipline: Emergency Management
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
We noted some disparity in the nomenclature of the virtual meetings used to support the operation of each of the centres, whose team meeting names did not necessarily match the names identified in the emergency manual.
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - Lack of information symmetry in the organization
Date & time of visit: 2022-06-07 11:30
CER’s staff noted a certain disparity and lack of symmetry in the dissemination of information within the company. Significant differences between some centres and individuals regarding factual elements have surfaced. In particular, about the number of victims or the number of residences affected at a given time or in relation to the different areas identified. Moreover, the use of outdated or unconfirmed data is an additional risk when there is no single source of truth.
Observation 3 - Written Action Plan - CSA Z246-2 14.5
Date & time of visit: 2022-06-07 15:00
The production of emergency indicators is part of a written action plan specific to the incident. Thus, the strategies used are explicitly identified in writing with corresponding indicators, allowing for continuous adjustment. This was not observed, although it is possible that it is a side effect of the contingency planning cycle used by Champion, as described in its Emergency Procedures Manual. However, we note that Champion only mentions the standard in its emergency manual, without endorsing it in full.
Observation 4 - Compliance with the CER’s incident alert and communication protocols.
Date & time of visit: 2022-06-06 10:00
The notification and alert diagrams were well respected and followed by the Canada's Energy Regulator and the Transportation Safety Board.
Observation 5 - Objectives achieved in a highly interactive and realistic scenario.
Roles and responsibilities were tested for all participants in a demanding and realistic scenario. The collaboration and interaction of the participants allowed for an effective response to the simulated ongoing emergency while prioritizing the protection of the public. The high level of interaction, communication and integration with participants outside the company allowed for a level of realism that fulfilled the desired objectives.
Observation 6 - Excellent operational and strategic communication with partners, especially on procurement issues.
Date & time of visit: 2022-06-07 06:50
Excellent operational and strategic communication with partners, including procurement issues during and after the incident.
Identified non-compliances to company plans or procedures are non-compliances either to:
- the condition of an authorization document that requires the implementation of that plan or procedure; or
- the relevant section of the regulations that requires implementation of that plan or procedure including those sections that require implementation of plans or procedures as a part of a Program
