Collaboration and communication, in the name of pipeline safety

CEPA member companies gather to test collective emergency response

Any incident is everyone’s incident.

That was the underlying theme as members of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), including Enbridge, recently gathered in Edmonton for a Joint Emergency Management Exercise – with the objective of testing and strengthening the bonds of co-operation, in the unlikely event of a pipeline incident.

“Today marks a significant milestone for CEPA members, because today we test our ability to effectively collaborate, communicate, and respond to a pipeline emergency,” Dr. Brenda Kenny, the president and CEO of CEPA, told participants.

Organized in the interests of preparation, readiness, and response, the joint exercise on Sept. 24 marked the first time that CEPA members have tested their ability to collectively respond to an emergency situation. The joint exercise was also a direct result of the pipeline industry’s commitment to continuous improvement in the areas of safety and environmental protection.

The joint exercise assumed an Incident Command System (ICS) structure – the common system used by first responders, the military, and civil authorities across North America in emergency response situations – and included several representatives of Enbridge. Activities also included a showcase of leading-edge emergency response equipment and supplies.

At Enbridge, we take emergency response and readiness very seriously – we held 381 exercises, drills, and equipment deployment events across our operations in 2012, and 478 more in 2013.

The Sept. 24 event, though, tested for the first time the Mutual Emergency Assistance Agreement (MEAA), signed by CEPA members in November 2013. This agreement formalized the industry practice of sharing human resources, equipment, and tools between companies in the unlikely event of a significant pipeline incident.

“This joint exercise was about collaborating as an industry. I think it shows that we are committed to transparency, as well as shared best practices – and that there is no competition when it comes to safety,” says Stephen Lloyd, a Senior Manager of Emergency Response at Enbridge, who chaired the committee that planned the Sept. 24 joint exercise.