Case Study
Port Hope Emergency Exercise
The effects of low-level radiation, the presence of caustic chemicals and fire are a few of the public safety concerns of the 16,500 community residents with a major nuclear processing site on their waterfront. For Cameco, addressing these concerns proactively with residents of Port Hope, Ontario, is a top priority, and critical to maintaining our social licence to operate.
With our uranium conversion facility located near the municipality’s historic business core, our presence along the shores of Lake Ontario, our proximity to major rail lines and our nuclear fuel manufacturing plant only a short stroll away, we are a prominent part of the local landscape.
“The majority of our citizens are very confident in Cameco,” said Port Hope mayor Linda Thompson. “Because of Cameco’s central location, citizens are very watchful of what happens at its facilities. They know they can ask questions and the answers they receive from Cameco are satisfying.”
Our public safety standards and environmental practices are heavily monitored by provincial and federal regulators. With safety as one of the company’s core values, we aren’t satisfied with answering only to our regulators, however, we go beyond compliance to openly address the concerns of our neighbours.
In 2006, we created community liaison forums to share information and discuss public concerns about our operations. We hold several forums per year and involve the public in choosing topics.
“It’s been a successful vehicle for open and balanced discussion,” said Doug Prendergast, senior communications specialist at Cameco. “We’ll have a variety of people attend – critics, members of the chamber of commerce, the municipality, MPPs, MPs, employees and curious community members. We’ve talked about risk, radiation, even topics not related to safety, such as public opinion polling and our community investment program.”
Cameco produces a newsletter summarizing the information provided at each forum, along with updates on site developments, community engagement activities and regulatory matters. Copies are delivered to every address in Port Hope.
Over the past eight years, we have significantly enhanced our emergency response training and equipment to ensure employees and the public are protected in the event of an emergency at the conversion facility. The emergency response organization includes more than 70 employees, approximately 50 of whom have received specialized training to deal with confined space rescue, hazardous materials and industrial firefighting.
Working in close partnership with the municipality, Cameco has contributed to the community’s own emergency preparedness infrastructure as well.
More than 10 years ago, the company introduced a “Rapid Notify” automated telephone messaging system. Those who are registered on the service receive alerts about all types of emergency situations. It was used to successfully convey updates to residents during the December 2013 ice storm. Cameco turned the system over to the municipality in 2011.
We also cover the cost of hazardous material training for all members of the Port Hope fire and emergency services department which most municipalities this size do not receive. Regular interaction between Port Hope firefighters and Cameco emergency responders ensure both teams are equipped to handle emergencies within their jurisdictions.
A full-scale safety exercise in the fall of 2012 demonstrated that both the municipality and Cameco are well on track. The exercise was a regulatory requirement, and Emergency Management Ontario and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission officials were there to monitor it.
The staged “emergency” was a release of hydrogen fluoride from a tank car inside the fence line of the conversion facility’s UF6 building. Hydrogen fluoride is a caustic chemical used in the uranium conversion process and commonly used in the auto and plastics manufacturing industry.
To support the Port Hope fire and police departments and the Cameco emergency response team, a large number of municipal and Cameco experts huddled in the background to make sure everyone had the tools and resources they needed to handle the mock spill.
From the municipality, this included Mayor Thompson, a communications co-ordinator, directors of public works, waterworks and engineering. From Cameco, this included communicators, environmental technicians, finance personnel and human resources representatives.
“It was a thorough and comprehensive exercise,” said Doug. “Because so many people were involved, it felt more like a real situation. The challenges presented during the simulation felt closer to what you would actually feel in a real situation. People were focused and acting very responsibly.”
Mayor Thompson agreed. “Whenever we have done an exercise, we work together very well. We’re able to have open and frank discussions and solve problems together. Having our firefighters train together really helps too, because we know where the responsibilities lie and how we will interact. Our volunteer firefighters who are also Cameco employees see that and have that level of confidence as well.”