Emergency Management Program

The safety and protection of the public, employees, contractors, the environment and our assets are top priorities for PMC's Emergency Management program (EMP).

In accordance with Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Order MO-002-2017, PMC has made Emergency Management Program (EMP) information available on its company website for public viewing. EMP information can be found below and in the links provided at the bottom of this page.

PMC is committed to conducting our operations in a manner that ensures the safety and security of the public, our employees and those who work on behalf of PMC; the safety, security and integrity of our assets, including property; the protection and stewardship of the environment; and the readiness to respond to incidents and emergency situations throughout the asset lifecycle.

In support of this commitment, PMC's Emergency Management Commitment Statement indicates that PMC is prepared to manage all emergencies and protect the public, workers, environment, and company assets. The EMP is focused on making sure all hazards and risks are identified, and personnel can respond quickly and safely to an unplanned event or incident.

The EMP meets or exceeds all applicable federal and provincial regulatory requirements in addition PMC’s internal standards, which is governed by our Operations Management System (OMS). Implementation of the OMS framework will enable us to continue to improve through operational excellence to safely deliver exceptional results.

 

The Emergency Management Program is built on four integrated pillars:

Identifying and managing all hazards is a critical part to avoiding incidents or minimizing their impacts. Programs such as Health & Safety, Process Safety, and Damage Prevention work together with the EMP to make sure we are prepared if an incident does occur.

 We prepare by ensuring our personnel and other responders are trained and have the tools - such as Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) and equipment - necessary to perform their roles. Continuous improvement of our ERPs takes place through review, hazard assessments, training, and exercises.

 

Through its core functions, the EMP helps employees  respond safely and effectively to an emergency. Working together with clear roles and responsibilities, we use key emergency management principles to respond to an incident.

 

Once an incident is over, returning the environment, communities and operations back to normal is a critical part of our commitment as a responsible member of the communities where we operate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals, Objectives and Purpose

The purpose of the EMP is to ensure PMC can respond safely and quickly to emergencies. The EMP is an integrated system whose objective is to create a framework for addressing all potential response scenarios. It outlines the required manuals, processes and procedures, equipment, training and exercise requirements, etc., to ensure PMC can respond cooperatively and in a coordinated fashion with third-party vendors and contractors, government and regulatory agencies, Indigenous communities, and community first responders in the event of an emergency.  

Our Emergency Management Program is built on the integrated foundations of the four pillars listed above and will:

  • Meet or exceed all regulatory and legal requirements

  • Consider all hazards when identifying and mitigating risks

  • Ensure PMC employees have appropriate emergency preparedness, response training and resources, including spill response equipment and emergency response service providers

  • Ensure the set objectives are consistently met during every response

  • Ensure emergency response is coordinated with regulators, first responders, government agencies, and Indigenous Communities and to promote Unified Command

  • Integrate and align with corporate commitments, processes, programs, and procedures as part of the Operations Management System.

  • Continuous improvement of the Emergency Management program

 

Integration with other PMC programs is key to successfully identifying and managing hazards, responding to incidents and emergencies, and effectively communicating with stakeholders. The EMP works together with other programs such as:

  • Damage Prevention program

  • Security program

  • Asset Integrity program

  • Health and Safety program

  • Public Awareness program

  • Environmental Protection program

 

Hazard identification, risk assessment and controls, clean up and remediation

PMC is committed to providing a workplace that protects our workers and the communities that we are a part of. In order to accomplish this, it is critical to identify potential hazards that may be encountered in PMC operations. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm or adverse effect. Identifying hazards is the first step for all PMC programs and processes that are in place to either prevent or reduce the impacts that hazards have on people, environment, and property.

Through the Operation Risk Management (ORM) program, PMC follows a standard approach for managing the risk of hazards causing harm or adverse effect.  ORM drives a governed, consistent and consolidated approach to many risk practices already in place at PMC.  Our risk management protocols include the engagement of key stakeholders to identify hazards, assess risks and develop controls to protect the public and the environment. Using ORM tools, templates, and process, the EMP undergoes a hazard identification and risk assessment annually.

A key part of the EMP includes Emergency Response Plans (ERPs). ERPs that are required by regulation are provided to and reviewed by the responsible government agencies.  ERPs are designed to identify and respond to any and all incidents that occur. For hazardous products, PMC establishes emergency planning zones (EPZs) using an approved methodology set out by the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and in accordance with industry best practices and our own risk management protocols. 

An EPZ is a geographical area around a particular asset that requires specific emergency response planning. This area assists PMC in putting the right controls and processes in place to ensure public and worker safety is maintained in the event of an incident or release of hazardous product. Understanding the potential consequences of a hazardous product is critical to managing public and worker safety. The safety and health consequences of hazardous products is communicated to stakeholders through many mediums including, but not limited to, awareness and consultation, and our public safety and information handouts.

Examples of hazardous products that have calculated EPZs include H2S gas and natural gas liquids. PMC has key emergency response information, identification of hazards, and safety protocols in place to ensure all products stored or transported by PMC are safely handled. Integration with other programs such as Environmental Protection, Health and Safety, and Asset Integrity are key to making sure this takes place.

In the event of a release of hazardous product, PMC is responsible for responding to the emergency as well as clean up and remediation of the site. To facilitate this, PMC has formal plans and processes in place to manage clean-up, recovery, and remediation of local areas to minimize any impacts to the environment. The above activities are completed in collaboration with regulators and other government officials, as appropriate.

Additionally, PMC owns and maintains specialized spill and emergency response equipment, such as response boats and mobile command trailers, in various strategic locations across our assets (see map). Containment and recovery equipment is stored in mobile Oil Spill Containment and Recovery (OSCAR) trailers. This, in conjunction with having mutual aid and contract agreements in place with professional third-party emergency response personnel and equipment, will ensure PMC is able to respond quickly and safely to an emergency. PMC is an active member of Western Canadian Spill Services (WCSS), which stores equipment in various locations across the province of Alberta, ready to be deployed wherever it may be needed. Please visit the WCSS website, as well as PMC's Environmental Protection Program and In an Emergency sections, for more information.

In accordance with Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Order MO-002-2017 (the Order), PMC has made Emergency Management Program information available on its website for public viewing. Links to additional EMP information are provided below:

Emergency Response Plans

Training and Exercises

Incident Management

Stakeholder Engagement and Continuing Education

What to do in an Emergency