The Pressure News - Volume 25 - Year-end issue message, freezing damage, and accident summaries

Oct 28, 2026

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The Pressure News (Volume 25, Issue 4, December 2020) presents ABSA’s year-end message describing how management responded to COVID-19 through remote work, revised processes, and a “People are Safe” priority. It reports a safe injury record for ABSA employees, addresses industry safety trends, and notes a fatal fall incident not linked to pressure equipment failure. The issue also explains freezing damage risks to pressure equipment, summarizing winter incident patterns and outlining winterization and immediate out-of-service inspection guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

General Manager’s Year-End Holiday Message

Freezing Damage to Pressure Equipment

ABSA incident patterns and impacts

Winterization and inspection guidance

Summary of Accident Reports

ABSA Online Seminars

‘Design Pressure’ vs. ‘MAWP’ for Pressure Vessels

No Fee Increase for 2021

New Email for Technical Questions

THE PRESSURE NEWS Volume 25 , Issue 4 , December 2020 IN THIS ISSUE: General Manager’s Year-End Holiday Message ..................... 1 Freezing Damage to Pressure Equipment ................................ 1 Summary of Accident Reports .... 2 ABSA Online Seminars ................ 2 ‘Design Pressure’ vs. ‘MAWP’ for Pressure Vessels ..................... 2 No Fee Increase for 2021 ............ 3 New Email for Technical Questions ................................. 3 This newsletter is a publication of ABSA. ABSA grants readers permission to make photocopies of this newsletter for free distribution to employees and business associates. Articles may be copied in part or in whole provided credit is given to ABSA. GENERAL MANAGER’S YEAR-END MESSAGE To say the least, 2020 has been a very peculiar and challenging year. The year began with a significant decline in energy prices, which by mid-February was starting to negatively impact demand for ABSA services. Then along came the pandemic, a public health emergency, and the ensuing economic recession. ABSA management has been, and continues to be, proactive in responding to the year’s challenges. In consideration of COVID-19, management has emphasized ABSA’s “People are Safe” value, with the stated position that the health and safety of our employees and their families, our stakeholders, and of the general public is our priority; and that ABSA employees would do their best to provide services with this priority in mind. ABSA’s offices were closed in early March, and systems and processes were quickly modified to permit all employees to work from home. Although some services were temporarily suspended during the initial lock-down, other services could be carried on under practices that exceeded the minimum requirements of public health orders and guidelines; the result was minimal service disruption to our stakeholders. We are pleased to report that these measures have been very effective: although there were two isolated cases of employees becoming ill with COVID-19, both recognized the symptoms early, self-quarantined, and quickly recovered. Neither of them contracted the illness in the course of their work at ABSA. Despite having to deal with the health risks associated with the pandemic, alongside the regular on-the-job hazards of our work, we are pleased to report that ABSA has had another safe year in terms of injuries to employees, with zero lost time incidents. Although some adjustments needed to be made to the employee complement due to the effects of the pandemic on Alberta’s economy, we remain in a strong financial position with reserves at year-end meeting our board’s targets for financial health. Again, our independent external auditor gave us a clean financial audit. Industry stakeholders have also risen to the challenges presented by 2020 and we are pleased to have partnered with them to accommodate the logistical barriers presented by COVID. The overall safety performance of the system did not diminish: although there has been a slight increase in the reported number of pressure-equipment-related unsafe conditions, accidents, and fires, there has been a decrease in the number of reported injuries. Tragically, one fatality, which was not related to failure of pressure equipment, was reported when a worker died from a fall from scaffolding inside a large power boiler. In addition to its knowledgeable and skilled complement of staff, ABSA is very fortunate to have a dedicated and committed board of directors – their strategic guidance is very much appreciated by management and staff. With our stable, well-experienced workforce and the strong support of our board, Alberta Municipal Affairs, the Safety Codes Council, and Alberta industry, ABSA is well positioned to continue delivering its mandate in the years to come. As we close out 2020, all of us at ABSA and our Board of Directors are hoping for an expeditious end to the pandemic, and would

FAQs

What COVID-19 measures did ABSA emphasize for workplace safety in this issue?

ABSA emphasized its “People are Safe” value and prioritized employee, family, stakeholder, and public health and safety. Offices were closed in early March and systems were modified so employees could work from home while maintaining required health guidelines.

What does the issue say about the impact of freezing temperatures on pressure equipment?

When pressure equipment is exposed to temperatures below zero, contained fluids can freeze and expand, damaging piping, boilers, and heat exchangers. Such damage may be difficult to detect and can create serious safety implications if the equipment is operated afterward.

How should equipment affected by a freezing incident be handled according to the guidance?

Equipment owners should implement an effective pressure equipment winterization program. Any equipment affected by a freezing incident must be taken out of service immediately and must not return to pressure service until it has undergone proper inspection and integrity evaluation.

Oct 28, 2026

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