Emergency Response Assistance Canada and Canadian Pacific conduct training exercise to ensure responders are ready for rail emergencies

EDMONTON, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC), in conjunction with Canadian Pacific (CP), today conducted a rail emergency exercise as part of ongoing ERAC responder training in the event of an incident involving a rail car carrying flammable liquids or gas.

ERAC Response Teams, Technical Advisors and Remedial Measures Advisors from across Alberta participated in this full-scale hands-on training exercise involving three simultaneous controlled transfers of flammable product from rail cars.

"Rail Incidents involving flammable liquids and gases, although very rare, can happen at any time and any place. If they do, Emergency Response Assistance Canada is capable of responding with highly-trained and experienced responders," said Spencer Buckland, ERAC President. "Controlled transfer exercises provide our responders with critical experience to ensure they are ready to act when an incident occurs."

"CP is proud to partner with organizations like ERAC to further enhance the skills of our first responders and contractors in the event they need to respond to dangerous goods incidents," said Glen Wilson, CP Assistant Vice President Environmental Risk and board member of ERAC. "CP's network of contractors are on call 24/7 for emergency response services; we have expert personnel and specialized equipment for the purpose of initial product containment, recovery and transfer."

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and Strathcona County Emergency Services also participated in the exercise.

About Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC):
Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) is a not-for-profit emergency preparedness and response organization. Experts in designing emergency response assistance plans (ERAPs), ERAC is instrumental in assisting hundreds of oil and gas and transportation organizations. From coast to coast ERAC provides highly trained and skilled responders, equipment and industry best practices for road or rail incidents involving flammable gases and liquids. ERAC is a subsidiary of the Canadian Propane Association (CPA).

About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific CPCP is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.

SOURCE Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC)