Our Safety Management System (SMS) is a key tool to achieve safety excellence and deliver effective and efficient operations. Our Safety and Integrity teams work together with all our operating divisions to provide the proper support and resources to implement and effectively execute our Safety and Integrity Management Systems.
Canadian Natural's Safety Management System supports all of our operations. Consisting of 15 industry recognized elements, our Safety Management System exceeds industry standards for basic safety programs.
Our Safety Management System is based on the principles found in the Corporate Statement on Health and Safety - integral to the way in which Canadian Natural conducts its business.
Canadian Natural has an extensive Corporate Emergency Response Plan. We ensure that we are properly prepared for the management of potential accidents and incidents at all our operating locations. Emergency Response Plans are located at all our operating plants and batteries.
In 2010, our Emergency Response Team was required to audit Canadian Natural’s numerous property acquisitions in Canada. The team was successful at bringing additional needed response plans up to company standards and into regulatory compliance.
Our Horizon Emergency Response Team provides full emergency response availability 24 hours per day. Their services include: fire prevention, fire protection, medical and rescue response, water and ice rescue, industrial firefighting, aircraft rescue and fire fighting standby, respiratory protection maintenance, gas detection Maintenance, site safety and emergency training, medical center support, hazardous material spill response and communications. They also provide mutual aid obligations to off site oil sands companies as well as emergency services on the 17 kilometers of Horizon highway.
Our International operations maintain an effective state of readiness for emergencies at all operating sites. Regular exercises and training were conducted and the emergency response facilities in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and Port Gentil, Gabon were further enhanced in 2010 to support offshore operations. A Strategic Response Team consisting of senior managers is also available to provide crisis management support in the event of a major emergency.
CNR International has an integrated management system in place to fulfill its environmental and safety performance goals. We are continuing to extend our current scope for ISO 14001 certification. This international standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and specifies requirements for environmental management systems. Our International operations have developed stringent operating standards in four priority areas:
- Using water-based, environmentally friendly drilling muds whenever reasonably practicable;
- Implementing cost-effective ways of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production;
- Exercising duty of care with respect to all waste we produce through effective waste management plans; and
- Minimizing produced water volumes through cost-effective measures and the use of non-toxic or lower toxicity production chemicals whenever reasonably practicable.
