Short answer
A fire at CNRL's Hussar gas plant near Standard, Alberta injured two workers, one critically, and forced a three-kilometre evacuation on October 2. The cause is not yet public, but the response points to emergency planning, incident reporting and return-to-work steps employers can review.
Two workers were injured, one critically, in a fire at a southern Alberta gas plant. The cause has not been made public, which leaves employers with the parts of an emergency they can control ahead of time: the response, the reporting, and what happens to an injured worker afterwards.
As reported by Canadian Occupational Safety, the fire broke out on October 2 at Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.'s (CNRL) Hussar gas plant near Standard, about 85 kilometres east of Calgary. Wheatland County Fire Services responded at about 5:30 a.m. A man in his 70s was transported by STARS air ambulance to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary in critical, life-threatening condition. CNRL said a second worker was assessed by medical personnel at the site and released.
Wheatland County ordered the evacuation of properties within a three-kilometre radius of the plant. The evacuation area was later reduced as the situation was brought under control, and CNRL said the fire was fully extinguished by approximately 3:30 p.m. CNRL said its personnel and local emergency response resources managed the incident, that all regulatory bodies were notified, and that there was no safety threat to the public or the environment. The cause has not been publicly identified, and no public findings had been released as of October 6. Authorities have not released details on how the workers were injured or what happened immediately before the incident.
Emergency response that accounts for the neighbourhood
The evacuation is the part of this incident that applies to any employer with a fixed site: accounting for workers, coordinating with local authorities who manage the surrounding area, and telling the public what is happening. CNRL's published emergency management information, cited in the article, says people near its operations may be told to shelter in place or evacuate if an incident could affect their safety, and that the company works with local authorities when an emergency has the potential to affect the public. A plan that covers only the people inside the gate is incomplete. It should settle who calls emergency services, who notifies neighbours, when sheltering in place is the right call instead of evacuating, where workers muster, and who speaks for the company.
Reporting, investigation, and the longer file
Alberta's OHS Act puts duties on employers as soon as a worker is seriously injured: notify Alberta OHS as soon as possible, leave the incident scene undisturbed except to prevent further injury, and investigate the incident. Those duties apply whether or not the cause is obvious, and they are easier to meet when the process, the call list and the investigation template are written down beforehand.
Serious injuries also outlast the emergency response. WCB claims, modified duties and return-to-work planning can stay active for months. As reported by DiscoverAirdrie, Alberta first responders can face further decisions after PTSD claims are accepted, and even after a psychological injury claim is accepted, decisions about treatment, benefits and returning to work may continue. That makes return-to-work planning something to start early, while the claim and the treatment plan are still taking shape.
If your emergency response plan, incident reporting procedure or return-to-work process has not been reviewed or tested, Salient Health & Safety can help. Our OHS program development service covers emergency response, incident investigation and reporting, and our WCB claims and cost management service helps employers manage claims and bring workers back to modified duties. Book a free discovery call to talk through what your site needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does Alberta's OHS Act require after a worker is seriously injured?
Employers must notify Alberta OHS as soon as possible when a worker is seriously injured. They must also leave the incident scene undisturbed except to prevent further injury, and investigate the incident. Those duties apply whether or not the cause is obvious.
What should an emergency response plan cover for a fixed site?
A plan should account for the area beyond the site, because an incident can affect the surrounding community. It should settle who calls emergency services, who notifies neighbours, when sheltering in place is the right call instead of evacuating, where workers muster, and who speaks for the company.
Does anything continue after a psychological injury claim is accepted?
Yes. Even after a psychological injury claim is accepted, decisions about treatment, benefits and returning to work may continue. That makes return-to-work planning something to start early, while the claim and the treatment plan are still taking shape.