ABSA Audit Guidance
September 30, 2011 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
A number of LibraSystemTM clients have been having difficulties with ABSA (Alberta Boilers Safety Association) audits ranging from problems with Equipment Integrity Management System Manuals (IMSM), to questions related to certification and competency of pressure equipment operators, to conflicting requirements regarding Emergency Response Plans.
Because of these concerns, Alliance Borealis hosted a meeting with a number of our clients on September 28 to discuss these concerns and identify options for resolving them. The consensus of the meeting was that ABSA is increasingly turning its attention to smaller companies and applying a greater level of scrutiny than was the case in the past. Unfortunately, companies that have gone through these audits have found them to be very frustrating, contradictory and in some cases, difficult to comprehend.
Based on these discussions, Alliance Borealis has agreed to develop materials to assist our clients and others to better understand and meet the requirements of ABSA, especially during the audit process. These materials will be incorporated into LibraSystemTM for use by all of our clients.
We have just started this process, and would welcome any of our LibraSystemTM clients and others to participate in the process by submitting materials and/or by participating in future discussions.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Jim Swiss at 403-233-2291 or jjswiss@abcanada.org. Or if you have a colleague that might be interested in our ABSA initiative please let them know.
Watch Our 3 Minute Movie!
March 27, 2011 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Find out more about Libra-System and ABCan-Track in our 3.5 minute .
ENFORM Releases New Safety Advisories
September 14, 2010 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The following safety advisories (SA) were released by ENFORM recently.
- Induced Hydraulic Facture Results in Blowout (SA-2011-13)
- Geotechnical Auger Misses 24″Crude Pipeline (SA-2011-14)
- Yoke Failure on Snubbing Unit (SA-2011-15)
- Single Bolt Rod Clamp Failure (SA-2011-16)
- H2S Exposure – Failure to Follow Proper Procedure(SA-2011-18)
Alliance Borealis Canada Corp. partners with ComplyWorks Ltd.
April 29, 2010 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
ComplyWorks and Alliance Borealis announced that they have entered into a three-year strategic partnership agreement to provide industry best practices, and ongoing real-time regulatory compliance monitoring for health, safety and the environment (HSE) across Canada.
This new service will be fully integrated into both the ComplyWorks and Alliance Borealis suites of products and services. It is in direct support of industry-driven relevant compliance with active monitoring across all levels, now including monitoring of all changes to HSE regulations across Canada. International regulatory monitoring will commence as required in Q 3 2010.
Cal Fairbanks, President and CEO of ComplyWorks stated that, “It’s never been more important than right now to deliver solutions that will foster safer work practices in this Country. ComplyWorks has the largest contractor compliance community in Canada. With the addition of this real time monitoring of legislative and regulatory changes across the country, employers, contractors and workers can access everything they need in one place to meet and understand any changes to their relevant regulatory and best practices compliance standards. We listen to our customers, rather than drive a wedge between employers and contractors. We continue to implement solutions that enhance these critical relationships and provide the tools to work together to meet everyone’s needs.”
“We are delighted to partner with ComplyWorks to deliver to our client community the best Canadian solution for reducing the costs and complexities associated with ever-changing HSE regulations and industry best practices. Keeping on top of these changes isn’t just a matter of being compliant on paper,” commented Cari Chernichen, President of Alliance Borealis. “Continuous development, constant improvement and ongoing implementation of HSE programs are essential to ensuring a skilled, competent and safe workforce. For our part, we are committed to identifying and communicating these changes to our clients in a manner that best suits field-level implementation. By joining forces with ComplyWorks, we can share relevant regulatory change with a broader community, giving them the most up-to-date information and work practices ready for implementation wherever they choose to work.”
About Alliance Borealis Canada Corp.
We help small to medium-sized oil and gas companies, service companies and contractors take control of their HSE management responsibilities. Our suite of programs is lead by the LibraSystem™ HSE Management System which we developed from more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the Canadian and international oil and gas industries. In line with ComplyWorks, we believe that client relationships are true partnerships driven by mutual success. Expanding our regulatory monitoring and reporting services and improving access to the LibraSystem™ with ComplyWorks results in unparalleled service to all of our + 175 combined client companies across Canada.
Alliance Borealis is a privately held Alberta –based company with offices in Calgary.
About ComplyWorks Ltd.
ComplyWorks provides relevant compliance monitoring with active communications systems to companies across North America and internationally. With Alliance Borealis, our clients include over 175 employing companies and 9,500 contracting companies that rely on our solutions to strengthen employer/contractor/worker relationships, mitigate risk and monitor and improve HSE indicators. ComplyWorks does this by managing the contractor management process, and tracking the life of the engagement from prequalification through procurement into the supply chain, completion of work and accounting, and finally performance measurement, internal feedback and continuous improvement planning.
Incorporated in 2004 as Canadian HSE Registry Ltd., ComplyWorks is headquartered in Calgary. www.ComplyWorks.com
For more information please contact:
Ross Wickware
VP Products & Marketing
ComplyWorks Ltd.
Direct: (403) 984 6051, email: rossw@complyworks.com
Jim Swiss
C.E.O.
Alliance Borealis Canada Corp.
Direct: (403) 233 2291, email: jjswiss@abcanada.org
New: Practices for Welding Casing Bowls and Drill Stem Testing
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
The LibraSystem™ was recently updated to include two new safe work practices as well as changes to the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. The new practices include:
- Welding: Casing to Casing Bowls (with a Casing Bowl Welding Checklist)
- Drill Stem Testing
Subscribers can log into their accounts to view the full impact of these changes on the health, safety and environmental policies and practices. If you’re not a subscriber and would like more information, please contact Jude Hislop at 403-541-9606.
Other Changes of Interest
Alberta
Alberta Environment
Alberta Environment released the following documents and forms:
- A Guide to Remediation Certificates for a Petroleum Storage Tank Sites (June 2009)
- Application for a Remediation Certificate for a Petroleum Storage Tank Site (June 2, 2009)
- Record of Site Condition (March 2009)
- Record of Site Condition – fact sheet (April 6, 2009)
- Guide to Preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports in Alberta (March 2009)
- Guide to Providing Comments on Proposed Terms of Reference (March 2009)
- Guide to Reviewing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (November 2008)
- Specified Gas Emitters Regulation: Frequently Asked Questions for Baseline Emissions Intensity Applications and Compliance Reporting February 2008 (February 2009)
- Specified Gas Emitters Regulation: Technical Guidance for the Quantification of Specified Gas Emissions from Landfills November 2008 (February 2009)
Energy Resources Conservation Board
The ERCB released the following documents:
- Across the Board Newsletter May/June, 2009
- Accross the Board Newsletter June 2009
- ST 59: Alberta Drilling Activity – Monthly Statistics – April 2009 (Released June 9, 2009)
- ST 108: ERCB Monthly Enforcement Action Summary, February 2009 (June 2009)
- ST 60B:Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring and Venting Report: Industry Performance for the Year Ending December 31, 2008 (June 2009)
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Workplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety released the following documents:
- Year to date, numbers as of May 19, 2009
- Asbestos at the Work Site (CH019), July 2009
- Asbestos Containing Materials in Buildings to be Demolished (ASB003), July 2009
- Best Practices Mould at the Work Site (BH019), July 2009
- Do I have a Workplace Mould Problem (BH018), July 15, 2009
- Hydrogen Sulphide at the Work Site (CH029), Revised July 2009
- International Format for Material Safety Data Sheets, July 15, 2009
- Notifiable Occupational Diseases: Information for Physicians (MG030), Revised July 2009
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code – Comparison of Requirements between the OHS Code 2006 and OHS Code 2009, July 10, 2009
- Using Pesticides Safely (CH015), Revised July 2009
Alberta Boilers Safety Association
ABSA released the following report:
- IB09-007Alert – H2S Removal at Well Site, Non-Pressure Vessels Must not be Pressured (August 7, 2009)
British Columbia
BC Oil & Gas Commission
The BC Oil & Gas Commission released the following safet alert:
- OGC IB 07-09 Safety Alert Regarding Welding of Casing Bowls, July 15, 2009
WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC released the following reports:
- The Dangers of Breathing Silica Dust (WS 2009-04)
- Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, May 2009
- Best Practices for Truck Safety – Final Report. June 2009
BC Ministry of Environment
The B.C. Ministry of Environment released the following reports:
- Remediation of Sites Contaminated by a Spill, Revised June 2009
- Requirements for Independent Remediation, June 2009
- Requirements for Responding to Offsite Contaminant Migration, June 2009
- Site Profile Requirements for Site Decommissioning, July 2009
Saskatchewan
Workers Compensation Board
The Saskatchewan WCB released the following report::
- Assessment: Rate Classification of Industries 2009
Canada
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The CEAA released the following reports:
- Operational Policy Statement: Adaptive Management Measures under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, March 2009
- Guide to the Participant Funding Program. Revised December 2008
Industry
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
CAPP released the following report:
- 2009 Stewardship Benchmarking Guide
Enform
Enform issued the following documents:
- Tripping in Hole (SA-2009-07)
- Casing Erosion Cause Uncontrolled Well Release (SA-2009-08)
- Explosion in Flare System While Swabbing Well (SA-2009-09)
- Workers Injured Using Damaged Lifting Equipment (SA-2009-10)
- IRP Vol. 8 – Pumping of Flammable Fluids (2009)
LibraSystem™ Advisory Committee Meeting Announced
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Thursday, October 23 the LibraSystem™ Advisory Committee will meet in Calgary to discuss ongoing improvements to the LibraSystem ™ Health, Safety and Environmental Management System.
Improvements include changes motivated by regulatory updates, safety alerts and industry activities as well as additions requested by our subscriber community. These improvements are included at no extra charge to every one of our subscribers.
The Advisory Committee Meeting will also feature a special presentation on Prime Essential Systems Corp. and SafesitesEP™, a pair of new services and systems for managing prime contractor responsibilities at remote upstream oil and gas sites.
Every subscriber to the LibraSystem™ is automatically a member of the Advisory Committee and is urged to attend the meeting. For more information, contact Jude Hislop at 403-541-9606.
Influenza prevention available by pod cast
October 6, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Take seven minutes and learn nine ways to help prevent the spread of influenza viruses this season by tuning into a free podcast provided by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Just one of several free podcasts offered by CCHOS, “Help Prevent the Spread” describes tips for individuals as well as workplaces to use in promoting virus prevention. The podcast can be downloaded and played on computer or MP3 player, making it ideal for playing at safety meetings or for private listening at anytime.