ARCHIVED – Safety Advisory SA 2015-01 – Overhead Cranes and Material Handling Equipment

Safety Advisory SA 2015-01 – Overhead Cranes and Material Handling Equipment [PDF 83 KB]

OF-Surv-Gen 11
19 January 2015

To: All Companies under National Energy Board Jurisdiction
Canadian Energy Pipeline Association
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Provincial Pipeline Regulators

National Energy Board Safety Advisory SA 2015-01
Overhead Cranes and Material Handling Equipment

Please find attached Safety Advisory SA 2015-01.

The National Energy Board (NEB or Board) expects regulated companies to demonstrate a proactive commitment to continual improvement in safety, security and environmental protection, and to promote a positive safety culture as part of their management systems.

Safety Advisories are issued periodically in order to improve the oil and gas industry’s awareness of an identified safety or environmental concern with the goal of preventing incidents from occurring. A Safety Advisory also serves to further highlight NEB requirements, and conveys the Board’s expectation that regulated companies take appropriate action to mitigate any potential impacts to people or the environment.

The Board expects this advisory to be widely circulated to company personnel and contractors involved in the testing, maintenance, inspection, training and record keeping of overhead cranes and material handling equipment operating on the pipeline systems and facilities of NEB-regulated companies.

The NEB uses its enforcement tools to obtain compliance, deter future non-compliance, and prevent harm by using the most appropriate method available. Enforcement tools available to the NEB include, but are not limited to, Notices of Non-Compliance, Inspection Officer Orders, Board-issued Safety Orders, Administrative Monetary Penalties, revocation of a company’s authorization to operate and prosecution.

If you have any questions regarding this advisory please contact the Board at 1-800-899-1265.

Yours truly,

Original signed by L. George for

Sheri Young
Secretary of the Board

Attachment

Safety Advisory
SA 2015-01
January  2015

Overhead Cranes and Material Handling Equipment

Background

In 2014, the National Energy Board (NEB) conducted several routine facility safety inspections initiated by the NEB’s Compliance Verification Program. These inspections exposed non-compliances which have the potential to significantly impact worker safety and infrastructure.

The non-compliances revealed the safe-work procedures for material handling equipment and overhead cranes were inadequate. The effectiveness of training provided to workers with respect to following established procedures for pre-operational checks was not demonstrated. In addition, it was found that regular inspections of overhead cranes had not been consistently conducted.

The NEB is raising these concerns so that industry can be proactive in verifying they meet requirements relating to material handling equipment and overhead cranes within their safety programs and the regulations.

The NEB uses its enforcement tools to obtain compliance, deter future non-compliance, and prevent harm by using the most appropriate method available. Enforcement tools available to the NEB include, but are not limited to, Notices of Non-Compliance, Inspection Officer Orders, Board-issued Safety Orders, Administrative Monetary Penalties, revocation of a company’s authorization to operate and prosecution.

Preventive Actions

The following preventive actions are recommended:

• develop applicable, current and relevant equipment management procedures;
• train workers in inspection and operation of equipment; and
• conduct inspections, testing and maintenance pursuant to the schedule outlined in procedures or according to manufacturer’s specifications

If companies find deficiencies in their equipment management and training programs, companies must take corrective actions to mitigate potential safety hazards as required by National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations 6.5.

Further Information

If you have any questions regarding this advisory please contact Safety Management personnel at the NEB through our toll free number at 1-800-899-1265.

Date modified:

2020-09-29