Our focus is on protecting the public, safeguarding the health and wellbeing of employees and contractors, minimizing potential risks to the environment, and sheltering assets from damage or loss.

We use the Husky Operational Integrity Management System (HOIMS) to guide safe and reliable operations. Each of the 14 HOIMS elements has a specific aim and a clear set of expectations to continuously improve operational integrity.

Husky identifies potential hazards and risks and then works to eliminate or mitigate them. For certain equipment, this begins before it is acquired. We use strategic sourcing to ensure teams with appropriate experience participate in procurement evaluations. For example, purchases made in engineering critical categories – those that include the delivery of services, equipment or materials that have a direct impact on the reliability and integrity of our facilities – are subject to specific review by engineers during the bid evaluation stage. 

Performing activities safely and reliably leads to efficient and consistent performance and we continually assess whether we are meeting our own expectations and requirements for operational integrity. We conduct audits of business units and major facilities to verify processes and procedures are in place and implemented effectively. At the same time, business units provide assurance that processes are effective in managing risk.

Operational integrity targets are set as part of Husky‘s annual objectives.

Process Safety Events 

We investigate Tier 1 and 2 process safety incidents to determine how to improve equipment reliability and related operating integrity practices, and to identify barriers aimed at managing and mitigating major accident hazards.

Our Tier 1 and 2 process safety definitions align with those of the American Petroleum Institute, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers‘ Center for Chemical Process Safety and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP).

Tier 1 events are classified as those involving any major release of hazardous materials with the potential for serious consequences resulting in injuries, harm to the environment and/or asset damage. In 2017, we had 12 Tier 1 process safety events.

Pipeline Integrity

Husky monitors and manages 15,400 kilometres of pipeline as of the end of 2017, from the design and construction phases through to operation, maintenance and, ultimately, suspension and abandonment. This includes pipelines operated by Husky for the Husky Midstream Limited Partnership.

Our risk-based Pipeline Integrity Management Program is applied throughout the lifecycle of all Husky-owned-and-operated pipelines. We apply a proactive approach to managing integrity, operations and maintenance, factoring in the diverse profile of our pipelines. The Pipeline Operations and Maintenance Manual guides the safe operation and maintenance of pipelines.

With the goal of improving integrity and reducing incident rates, the Pipeline Integrity Management Program includes:

  • Risk assessments that identify potential integrity issues with appropriate action taken to address them.
  • Annual integrity reviews for all pipeline systems, assessing the effectiveness of the integrity programs and making recommendations for improvement where needed.
  • Mandatory training for employees involved in pipeline operation and maintenance.
  • Investigation of any incident to establish the root cause, using what is learned to improve our programs.
  • Performance targets, set annually and tracked monthly.

The Pipeline Integrity Management Program is reviewed regularly for alignment with code and regulatory requirements.

In 2016 Husky had a pipeline release at a river crossing in Saskatchewan, which an investigation conducted with third-party experts determined was caused by ground movement. In 2017 we continued water sampling and assessment of the shoreline to confirm no further cleanup was required. A geotechnical program was subsequently introduced to identify, monitor and mitigate potential impacts to pipelines from natural earth movements. Fibre optic sensing technology, which has increased capacity and capability for long distance distributed monitoring, is being installed on large diameter pipelines in high consequence areas on Husky‘s Saskatchewan Gathering System expansion. It will be implemented on all new large diameter and high consequence area projects.

Pipeline Incidents

In 2017 Husky recorded a pipeline incident rate of 1.03 incidents per 1,000 kilometres, coming in under our target and reflecting a reduction of 70 percent over four years.

Spill Management

Husky‘s overall integrity management system uses a number of programs across all operations to minimize the impact of releases and spills. The pipeline integrity management program evaluates pipeline infrastructure to identify risks and allow appropriate mitigation. Our environmental management system mandates that environmental risks, including the potential for spills, are evaluated and mitigated appropriately. 

In addition to prevention programs, we assess spill risks and identify and address any gaps in preparedness, improving our ability to respond. In the event of a spill, our response is immediate, implementing containment and recovery plans while safeguarding workers, the public and the environment.

Husky is a member of several industry spill response organizations and mutual aid agreements, onshore and offshore.

Husky had a total recovered volume for reportable hydrocarbons of 82 percent, slightly below our 2017 target of 85 percent. This target remains for 2018.

In 2017, the number of reportable release incidents and the volume of hydrocarbons and other fluids released declined from the previous year, due in part to improvements in integrity management and spill prevention programs, as well as the disposition of legacy assets. Reportable incident counts and volumes were all better than targets. The enhanced focus on spill prevention and early detection has allowed the Company to set more stringent targets for 2018.

Health, Safety and Environment Policy

Husky is committed to operational integrity: conducting all activities safely and reliably so that the public is protected, impact to the environment is minimized, the health and well-being of employees is safeguarded, contractors and customers are safe, and physical assets (such as facilities and equipment) are protected from damage or loss.

We conduct our business so as to maximize positive impacts on current and future generations in accordance with Husky‘s values. In particular, Husky will:

  • Demonstrate leadership and commitment to operational integrity by providing support to meet this HSE policy, as well as providing a culture where there is recognition for positive performance, and disciplinary action where appropriate, for breaches of this policy.
  • Cooperate with staff and workplace health and safety committees in the identification and implementation of reasonable measures that ensure the health and safety of staff and those who work on our behalf.
  • Require every member of staff, and those who work on our behalf: to be a leader in HSE; to exercise personal responsibility in preventing harm to themselves, to others, to the environment and to physical assets; and, to stop any work that is or becomes unsafe.
  • Require every member of staff and those who work on our behalf: to report all incidents regardless of severity. Incidents will be investigated to determine the root cause, lessons learned will be shared and corrective actions will be taken. Husky aims to sustain an incident free workplace.
  • Require organizations that employ individuals that work on our behalf to meet the expectations of this policy.
  • Identify and mitigate risk to as low as reasonably practicable during design, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of all assets.
  • Prepare for and respond to emergencies efficiently and effectively.
  • Comply with relevant laws, regulations and industry standards and take any additional measures considered necessary to meet the intent of this policy.
  • Demonstrate continuous improvement by: establishing leading and lagging key performance indicators and measurable performance goals, monitoring and reporting on the progress of our performance and conducting risk-based audits.