Pipelines continue to be safe however National Energy Board concerned with increase in worker injuries

08/25
For immediate release
3 July 2008

Pipelines continue to be safe however National Energy Board concerned with increase in worker injuries

CALGARY - Pipelines are operating safely but a spike in workplace injuries is cause for concern says a new report issued by the National Energy Board (NEB) today.

According to the NEB's annual Focus on Safety and Environment: A Comparative Analysis of Pipeline Performance 2000-2006, for the ninth year in a row, there were no fatalities on NEB-regulated pipelines.

For the fourth year in a row, there were no ruptures on NEB-regulated pipelines. A rupture, which is a loss of containment that impairs the operation of the pipeline, can cause explosions, fire and even death. Between 1991 and 2002, an average of 2.5 NEB-regulated pipelines ruptured every year. This improvement is primarily the result of integrity management programs, which have been compulsory since 1999.

However, the report also said that pipeline workers were twice as likely to suffer a workplace injury in 2006 than they were in 2005. The injury rate for workers on NEB-regulated pipelines more than doubled from 0.7 injuries for every 100 full time equivalent workers in 2005 to 1.5 injuries for every 100 full time equivalent workers in 2006. The injury rate for workers on NEB-regulated pipelines in 2006 was the highest since 2001.

The report points to issues such as the lack of or inadequate training, worker fatigue, level of experience and high turnover rates in the red-hot pipeline industry as possible contributing factors to the jump in pipeline worker injuries.

Although the National Energy Board sees room to improve the number of injuries on the job, the pipeline industry is still one of the safest in Canada. Statistics published by Human Resources and Social Development Canada show that among federally-regulated industries, only the banking sector has a lower injury frequency than the pipeline industry.

"While pipelines are by far the safest method of transporting energy across the country, the National Energy Board is understandably concerned with this trend," Sheila Leggett, Acting Chair, National Energy Board said.

"This report calls for increased vigilance on our part through compliance activities, such as inspections and audits, to ensure the companies we regulate are committed to implementing a culture of safety. Ultimately, we want everyone who works on NEB-regulated facilities to be able to make it home to their families at the end of the day."

In 2006, 37 incidents related to safety, pipeline integrity and the environment were reported on the 45,000 kilometres of pipeline regulated by the National Energy Board. For the fourth consecutive year, there were no ruptures on NEB-regulated pipelines. The most commonly reported incidents were gas pipeline releases.

The report also takes a look at leaks and ruptures on liquid pipelines. While there were twice as many liquid releases involving more than 1,500 litres in 2006 than there were in 2005, the total amount of liquid petroleum product involved in these incidents was nearly 14 times lower than the 2000-2006 average. Four liquid releases involving 2.5 cubic metres of petroleum product were reported to the NEB in 2006. Reducing ruptures, releases, leaks, and spills is an important step in protecting the environment.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

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For further information:

Sarah Kiley (sarah.kiley@neb-one.gc.ca)
Communications Officer
Telephone: 403-299-3633
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

Related documents:

• Focus on Safety and Environment: A Comparative Analysis of Pipeline Performance 2000-2006
• Fact Sheet - Focus on Safety and Environment - A Comparative Analysis of Pipeline Performance 2000-2006

For a copy of documents:

The Publications Office
National Energy Board
444 Seventh Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 0X8
E-mail: publications@neb-one.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-299-3562
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Telecopier: 403-292-5576
Telecopier (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663