Pipeline owners and operators are responsible for verifying that proper operating and maintenance procedures are being followed to ensure public safety.
They have specific responsibilities for pipeline safety under the following regulations:
Pipeline owners and operators are also required to comply with the Compliance Standards for Pipelines listed below. For convenience, these are summarized on the Pipeline Compliance Standard Summary Checklist for Pipeline Owners and Operators (pdf).
NOTE: All references below to CSA Z662:19 are to CSA Z662:19: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems.
Safety and Loss Management System (SLMS)
Safety and Loss Management Program
CSA Z662-19 [3.1.1] and [3.1.2]: The operating company shall have a safety and loss management program that provides for the protection of people, the environment, and property.
The operator’s SLMS shall contain, at a minimum:
Integrity Management Program
CSA Z662-19 [3.2] and CSA Z662 Annex N: An Integrity Management Program that addresses the life cycle of the pipeline system including methods for collecting, integrating, and analyzing information for the following:
Design and construction
Condition monitoring
Maintenance and repair
Operating conditions
Failure incidents
Damage incidents
Damage and deterioration (e.g., corrosion)
Manufacturing imperfections
Environmental protection
Safety
Emergency Management Program
CSA Z662-19 [3.1.2 f) vii)], [10.5.2.1]: An Emergency Management Program that includes:
Procedures for the safe control or shutdown of the pipeline system, or parts thereof, in the event of a pipeline emergency
Safety procedures for personnel at emergency sites
Security Management Program
CSA Z662-19 [3.1.2 f) viii)] CSA Z246.1-17 [5.1]: A Security Management Program that provides the flexibility needed for proactive decision making to address the security risks to an operator.
Protecting Physical Assets
CSA Z662-19 [9.1.6], [9.5.1]: Operator companies shall protect steel pipes with cathodic protections.
CSA Z662-19 [12.6.4.5]: All polyethylene pipes installed by pipeline operators shall be traceable.
CSA Z662-19 [10.15], [10.16]: Deactivation, reactivation and abandonment of a section of pipelines must adhere to the requirements set out in Z662 standard including record keeping requirements.
Protecting Customers
CSA Z662-19 [4.21]: Pipeline operators shall odorize the gas as defined in the Z662 standard before delivering to customer.
CSA Z662-19 [12.4.11]: Pressure control and overpressure protection for gas distribution network shall be installed in accordance with Z662 standard.
Mapping Requirements
Ontario Regulation 212/01: Gaseous Fuels S.10
CSA Z662-19 [10.5.1.1]:
CAN/CSA-Z247-15 (R2020): Damage prevention for the protection of underground infrastructure [10.1.1.2 and 10.1.1.3]
Pipeline operator companies shall maintain accurate records, maps and drawings of their pipeline systems and shall have the ability to efficiently and accurately identify their respective buried infrastructure when responding to locate requests from excavators.
CSA Z662-19, [10.5.3.1 and 10.5.3.2]:
Pipeline operators shall demarcate their assets with warning signs in high-risk or high- traffic areas to reduce the likelihood of damage and/or interference. Note: Strategic areas may include utility corridors, construction activity, drainage systems, and other anticipated third-party activity.
Personnel Competency and Training
CSA Z662-19[10.2.1] & [11.26.9]:
Ontario Regulation 215/01: Fuel Industry Certificates s.23 and s.42
Operating companies shall have competent and adequately trained personnel involved in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance activities including having Fuel Oil Pipeline Inspector (OPI) and Gas Pipeline Inspector (GPI) certificate holders (or a Professional Engineer) performing the task of examining the pipeline systems’ compliance to the regulations being enforced.
Incident Recording and Reporting
Ontario Regulation 210/01: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems
When operators discover carbon monoxide poisoning, asphyxiation, explosion or fire has occurred on their pipeline network, or an accidental release, vent or spill has occurred because of the use, handling or storage of oil or gas, operators must report the incidents to the Spills Action Centre under the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-268-6060 (24/7).
CSA Z662-19 [10.4.4]: Operators shall maintain a record of all damage incidents related to external interference and failure incidents throughout the life cycle of the pipeline.
TSSA’S Field Verification
At a minimum, operators must mitigate safety risks arising from high-risk activities as identified in the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) Field Verification Manual (pdf).
CSA Z662-19 [12.4.15.1]: Operators shall have signage outside of the buildings for regulators inside the buildings Section 7 of Ontario Regulation 210/01: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems and Section 16 of Ontario Regulation 212/01: Gaseous Fuels.
Gas distributor shall inspect the appliance before the appliance is initially put into use for the first time, and the distributor must inspect the appliance every 10 years for regulatory compliance (or at an interval determined by the quality assurance program).
CSA Z662-19 [12.4.15.4]: Operators shall adequately protect the meter set from vehicular traffic.
CSA Z662-19 [10.5.3.1 and 10.5.3.2]: Pipeline warning/identification signs should be installed in strategic areas as specified in the standard.