Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC), in conjunction with CN, announced Sept. 15 it conducted a rail emergency exercise as part of ongoing ERAC responder training in the event of an incident involving a railcar carrying flammable liquids or gas.
ERAC Response Teams, Technical Advisors and Remedial Measures Advisors from across Ontario participated in this full-scale hands-on exercise involving three simultaneous live-transfers of flammable product (LPG and light synthetic crude) from railcars.
"Despite being extremely rare, rail incidents involving flammable liquids and gases can happen at any time and any place. If they do, Emergency Response Assistance Canada is capable of responding with highly-trained and experienced responders," said Spencer Buckland, ERAC President. "Activities like today's controlled transfer exercises provide our responders with critical experience to ensure they are ready to act when an incident occurs."
"CN is pleased to partner with ERAC, as we believe working with our first responders, contractors and communities enhances rail safety," said Danny Simpson, assistant vice president of safety and emergency response at CN. "We continuously work to improve CN's emergency preparedness through ongoing training with specialized emergency response contractors, shippers' emergency response teams, industry specialists and community partners. Today's ERAC program is part of our commitment to effective emergency response."