Here’s a press release about the sirens that were tested at the Labatt Brewer in LaSalle earlier today, as well as at four other companies in Montreal

In case of major industrial accident – When the public warning sirens sound, take shelter

MONTREAL, Nov. 21, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – The Ville de Montréal’s Centre de sécurité civile today coordinated a voluntary and simultaneous public warning siren test at five plants located within the urban agglomeration. Although today’s test was technical, Montréal wishes to remind citizens that when the public warning sirens sound, they must take shelter.

The tests at the Labatt Brewery, Cepsa Chimie Montréal s.e.c., Chemtrade, Molson Coors and Saputo inc. enabled us to confirm the good working condition of the warning equipment. It was also an opportunity to inform the public on what to do when a siren is activated.

When the sirens sound, take shelter
In case of a toxic product release into the atmosphere that exceeds industry limits, a warning siren will be activated to alert people within the plant impact area. Although very few major industrial accidents have been reported in Montréal in the past, a risk remains, and it is vital that residents know how to react responsibly.

Proper behaviour is to seek shelter quickly inside the closest building, close the doors, windows and ventilation system. Do not pick up your children at school and avoid overloading telephone lines. These instructions will be broadcast on the radio and must be followed to ensure public safety.

Increased level of awareness of Montréal businesses
The city is being proactive and working in association with industries to minimize the consequences of a major accident on local communities and to develop a civil security reflex among citizens. The industries that took part in the siren test have adopted prevention and intervention procedures that meet the highest standards, based on standardized risk assessment.

In accordance with federal environmental emergency regulations, industries that store a large supply of dangerous substances must inform Environment Canada and their municipality, as well as implement an environmental emergency plan.

For more information on warning sirens or the Centre de sécurité civile, please visit www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/csc

SOURCE Ville de Montréal

Emergency Sirens to Roll Out Across Montreal

The major issue for LaSalle’s industrial committee in the past year has been learning about, and planning for, a new siren communication system.

These new sirens are going to be commonplace on the island of Montreal in the coming months,” says Pierre Dupuis, LaSalle’s Clerk and Communications Director.

The sirens are the latest innovation in a security preparedness process that began with a radio frequency to link Environment Canada and Montreal’s civil security, fire and police departments with various borough services and major industries where accidents that would jeopardize health and safety of residents might take place.

The first test of the system took place last November 27 in the east end, near the Suncor Refinery plant. Two industrial partners in that region had sirens installed on their work sites: Cepsa at 10,200 Sherbrooke St. East and ChemEst, at 11 450, rue Cherrier.

The sirens could be heard in a radial zone that was 1.5 km and 1.6 km from each of the sites.

Anyone who heard the sirens were directed to take shelter in the closest building to their location and close all windows, doors and exterior ventilation systems.

The test took place to train people to protect themselves from explosions and possible toxic gas exposure.

Similar sirens have been set up at two other industrial sites: Saputo and Molson Coors.

For more information about the siren system, refer to http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=7637,100603631&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL.

In LaSalle, sirens could be set up at any of the system partners, who include: Arborite, BP construction materials (asphalt and roofing), Labatts, Delmar, Fleischmann’s and Weir Canada.

Note: This article appeared on pages 1 and 3 in today’s version of the City Edition of the Suburban, www.thesuburban.com.