Emergency Response Simulation Showcases Regional Capabilities
St. Clair Township and Suncor’s St. Clair Ethanol Plant co-hosted this year’s emergency response simulation exercise on May 17 at the ethanol plant, with support from industry, police, and emergency response teams across the region. The yearly mutual aid exercise allows the opportunity for municipal and industrial partners to come together to test emergency response plans, equipment, and personnel, and identify areas for improvement in a safe and controlled environment. More importantly for the community, it’s an opportunity to ensure that effective communication systems are in place to call for assistance or get important safety messages to local workers and the community in a timely manner.
The selection of this year’s site location at the St. Clair Ethanol plant, provided the opportunity to create a unique scenario that really put the region’s mutual aid infrastructure to the test. The St. Clair Ethanol Plant is a smaller site that does not have the on-site emergency response capabilities that some of the other industry partners do. In addition, Praxair has a facility on site and Nova operates their Mooretown site directly to the south of the ethanol plant, both of whom had roles to play in this year’s exercise. The exercise involved a simulated release of a large volume of ethanol from an on-site holding tank, resulting in a mutual aid request. The St. Clair Township Fire Department responded, with support from Sarnia, Point Edward, Nova, Shell, Suncor and Imperial fire departments, as well as assistance from Lambton College’s Fire School.
Observers, including representatives from regulatory agencies, school boards, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, local media, and Public Health, were invited to observe the simulation exercise via drone footage at the St. Clair Township municipal office. St. Clair Township Fire Chief, Richard Boyes and BASES General Manager, Jason Vaillant were on hand to walk the group through the exercise and share information about the long-standing history of mutual aid collaboration and the commitment to safety in the region.
This event provides an invaluable opportunity for industry leaders, emergency response teams, and community members to come together and learn from each other. This year’s event truly showcased the level of collaboration in action, with discussions on emergency response strategies, sharing of best practices, and relationship building.
ASSUMPTION, WAIVER, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
Please read all the terms and conditions of this assumption, waiver, and indemnity agreement (this “Waiver”) with the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, an Ontario not-for-profit corporation, (“BASES”) because, by agreeing, you will waive many of your legal rights, including, but not limited to, your right to sue or claim relief from BASES.
By clicking the ACCCEPT button, “I agree to the assumption, waiver, and indemnity agreement”, or by using the Sarnia-Lambton Alerts Emergency Notifications service, which is powered by Everbridge, Inc. (“Everbridge”), and all information, content, materials, communications, and services related to such Notifications service (collectively, the “Service”), you (the “User”) hereby agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions of this Waiver:
- VOLUNTARY ASSUMPTION OF RISK. The User acknowledges and agrees that:
- BASES has retained Everbridge to provide the Service, which is for general information purposes and are provided “as is”;
- Everbridge is responsible in all respects as to the performance and efficacy of the Service;
- BASES sole involvement is the retention of Everbridge to provide the Service to the User;
- the User’s use of the Service may not be accurate, complete, useful, timely, error-free, or malware-free; and
- to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, BASES disclaims all conditions and warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, non-interference, system integration, and accuracy of data.
Additionally, the User is solely responsible for any damage to the User’s computer system or loss of data, any risk, danger, or hazards, and any possibility of injury that may result from the use or reliance on the Service, whether caused by the negligence or gross negligence of BASES or otherwise. - WAIVER. I hereby waive and release all claims that I have or may in the future have against BASES, its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, shareholders, successors, and assigns (collectively, “Releasees”), arising out of my use of the Services, due to any cause whatsoever, including without limitation the negligence, gross negligence, breach of contract, or conduct of any other kind on the part of any Releasee. I shall not bring any such claim waived and released against any Releasee.
- INDEMNIFICATION: I shall indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees against all losses, costs (including reasonable legal fees) or damages of whatever kind, arising from my use of the Services and the enforcement of this obligation.
- Governing Law and Venue. Ontario law governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Waiver. The User irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the Ontario courts. The User shall bring any proceeding against any of the Releasees in the courts of Sarnia, ON.
- Severability. I intend for this Waiver to be interpreted as broad as the law permits and if any of its provisions are held to be invalid, the balance shall continue in full legal force and effect.
- Entire Agreement. This Waiver constitutes the entire agreement between BASES and me with respect to the subject matter contained in this Waiver.