PROJECT WORK
PUBLIC SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT
Consequence Classification & Risk Management System, SaskPower
SaskPower retained Meco to develop a spreadsheet tool to assess dam safety risk and guide SaskPower’s standard of care in providing capital funding and operation, maintenance, and administrative budget allocations.
The spreadsheet tool was comprised of: an inventory of all structures in SaskPower’s portfolio of dams (including routine design and construction information); an updated dam classification system considering consequences internal to SaskPower (i.e. first-party losses); catalogues of design assessments, physical condition, and operational reliability; a data gap analysis; and a risk assessment adapted from the “Risk Index Method” presented at the 2008 Canadian Dam Association (CDA) conference.
The project had 4 main components:
- Compile an inventory of all structures in SaskPower’s portfolio of dams, including pertinent information about the design, construction, and physical condition of each structure;
- Develop an updated dam classification system that accounts for first-party losses, in addition to the third-party categories outlined in the CDA Dam Safety Guidelines;
- Review existing risk assessment methods used in the dam safety industry, and establish a methodology to be used in the spreadsheet tool; and
- Develop a user-friendly, robust spreadsheet tool that will provide insight as to which structures pose comparatively greater risks to dam safety and how those risks can be reduced.
Sullivan's Pond Public Safety Risk Assessment, Halifax Water
In 2017-18, Halifax Water modified Sullivan’s Pond controlled outlet from a storm water buried pipe to an open channel to support fish passage. The replacement structure is a 300 (+/-) m long open channel over flow pool and weir type structure. At its end, the channel reverts back to the old storm water pipe.
Halifax Water identified a potential public safety risk in the recently constructed open channel and authorized Meco to perform a Public Safety Risk Assessment of Sullivan’s Pond new structure.
The work included a site visit to identify physical hazards and evidence of public interaction with the site. A treatment plan was recommended to eliminate or when not possible, to reduce the risks to public safety.
Highlights:
- All work was accomplished as per the Canadian Dam Association Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams
- Sullivan’s Pond is located in a park owned by Halifax Regional Municipality and is heavily used by the public for recreational purposes. Recommendations were made considering maintaining the natural atmosphere of the park.
- Meco’s inquiries with different stakeholders revealed the new weir structure was identified as very appealing by kayakers, who didn’t realize the dangers of the downstream buried pipe. Public education was considered an obligatory measure.
