Hydro-Quebec says any problems with its northern dams are minor and the utility has excellent inspection procedures.
But a recent 25-per-cent cut to Hydro’s staff of inspectors in the North raises questions about whether this will be true in the future.
“There are no safety problems. The performance is good,” said Hydro spokeswoman Sylvie Tremblay.
Tremblay downplayed problems outlined in a 1996 internal Hydro report that said needed inspections, maintenance and repairs weren’t done.
“It’s not even important,” Tremblay said of the inspections Hydro failed to do as required under its regulations.
“It’s not more important than if I had a meeting this morning and I was late.”
Tremblay acknowledged that some inspections weren’t done, but said Hydro tried to meet its regulatory obligation to carry out regular checks on its facilities by doing inspections on other dams in the North.
Tremblay couldn’t explain why needed repairs and maintenance weren’t done on the dams, but insisted the system is safe.
The problems outlined in the 1996 report didn’t prevent Hydro from cutting its staff of inspectors in the North by 25 per cent, according to a union of Hydro employees.
The cut took effect Jan. 1,1998, and sliced the number of inspectors from 16 to 12. “Since January, the frequency of inspections has diminished,” said a union official representing LG-2 employees.
Along with cutting inspectors, Hydro has loosened up its regulations so fewer inspections will be required on the dam network, the union official told The Nation.
Last year, another Hydro union leader warned that looming cuts in the number of inspectors-could hurt safety.
“The less it’s inspected, the less it’s secure. That’s the opinion of everyone who workshere,” said Jacques Rodier, vice-president of the 6,000-member Union of Professionaland Office Employees.
“What would imperil the dams would be to cut the number of inspections.”
