Signs of Spring – Turnaround Season in Sarnia-Lambton

As we move into spring, summer, and fall, Sarnia-Lambton’s Industrial sector will experience a busy turnaround season. Turnarounds are essential maintenance and upgrade periods for industrial facilities, ensuring long-term operational safety, efficiency, and environmental improvements.

Turnarounds involve scheduled maintenance, inspections, and equipment upgrades that often require temporary shutdowns. These projects represent significant investments in local industry, providing opportunities to enhance operational safety and environmental performance. Additionally, turnarounds contribute to the local economy by creating short-term employment for skilled tradespeople and contractors working on-site, and increasing demand for goods and services.

Understanding Flaring During Turnarounds

During maintenance periods, residents may notice increased flaring at industrial facilities as units are taken in and out of service. Flaring is a controlled safety measure that prevents unplanned emissions and helps protect workers, the community, and facility operations.

Flares are important safety devices used in refineries and petrochemical facilities to release a buildup of pressure inside units in a controlled and environmentally-sound manner. They safely combust flammable gases that cannot be recovered or recycled and disperse them into the air rather than at ground level.

Flaring can occur as a result of weather-related events, planned maintenance, and also during unplanned operational interruptions. All flaring activity is strictly monitored and regulated to meet environmental standards, process safety requirements, and, where applicable, Responsible Care® principles.

While companies work to minimize flaring, it remains an essential part of safe operations. For updates on local industrial activities, visit company websites, follow social media channels, or sign up for industrial notifications through Sarnia-Lambton Alerts at www.sarnialambtonalerts.ca.