Risk management and emergency preparedness

Our approach

Risks associated with safety, security, health and the environment are inherent in our business. We remain vigilant of these risks as well as the critical role that a secure supply of energy plays in mitigating a disaster situation. It’s the reason we take a disciplined and systematic approach to business continuity planning and emergency preparedness.

What we are doing

Emergency response preparedness

Emergency response plans are in place at all our facilities. Should an emergency occur, local trained personnel are deployed, supported by regional emergency response teams and senior management as needed, to control the situation, minimize impacts, and restore normal operations in as short a time as possible. To strengthen our capability to respond quickly and effectively to operational incidents, we routinely test the trained teams at our operating sites with a range of possible scenarios, including responding to simulated product spills, fires, explosions, toxic vapour releases, natural disasters and security incidents. In 2009, we carried out nearly 250 emergency response exercises. These included tabletop exercises and full-deployment events that involved other external response organizations.

Plans to address H1N1

In 2009, our response to the H1N1 influenza virus was well coordinated across the company. Business continuity plans, developed in previous years, were in place; employees were kept regularly informed of the status of the illness; the occupational health department maintained contact with government health departments; and employee absenteeism was monitored.

Up close:

Dartmouth refinery plays role in test of port’s ability to respond to a security threat

In 2009, our Dartmouth refinery participated in Operation Siren, a joint federal, provincial, military and municipal simulation of a security threat against the Halifax port. The full-day exercise involved the discovery of a body in the harbour, followed by the threat of an unauthorized individual gaining access to the facility. The simulation, led by the federal government, successfully tested the port’s ability to respond to an event and the refinery’s ability to communicate with external agencies and deploy its own emergency response and management support teams.