Category: Emergency Preparedness and Response

No one wants it to happen, but an emergency, natural or manmade, can strike at anytime, 24/7. What’s more, it need not be a major, nationally-televised incident, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or act of political terror. An event as common as a local building fire can present just as large a challenge to you. These resources will help you create a plan for handling such crises, whatever their scope, and to carry it out in a way that best protects your employees and your company.

Free Special Report: 50 Tips for More Effective Safety Training

It’s Preparedness Month! Are you Ready for a Power Outage?

September is National Preparedness Month. This month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging businesses and individuals to make a plan for staying safe during different types of emergencies. Today we’ll look at FEMA’s recommendations for facing a power outage. When the power’s out, your business and your workers may face hazards that they […]

It’s Preparedness Month! Are you Ready for a Hurricane?

September is National Preparedness Month. This month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging businesses and individuals to make a plan for staying safe during different types of emergencies. Today we’ll look at how you can prepare your business to survive a hurricane. The north Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November […]

It’s Preparedness Month! Are you Ready for a Wildfire?

September is National Preparedness Month. This month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging businesses and individuals to make a plan for staying safe during different types of emergencies. Today we’ll look at how to prepare your business to survive a wildfire. If your workplace is located within a "wildland urban interface"—a spot that […]

EPCRA Lessons Learned

#1. What Went Wrong A California-based poultry company with a facility in Kelso allegedly did not meet the deadline in 2013 for reporting chemicals stored at its facility. The company apparently failed to report that it stored over 500 pounds (lb) each of ammonia and sulfuric acid, and over 10,000 lb each of carbon dioxide, […]

A Dozen Tips to Avoid Anhydrous Ammonia Misuse

Substitution Is First Choice The EPA and OSHA recently issued a joint “alert” to encourage the use of inherently safer technologies (IST) at chemical facilities. The Chemical Safety Alert: Safer Technology and Alternativesis intended to lay the groundwork for a future guidance document by introducing safer technology concepts and general approaches. According to the Alert, […]

9 Tips for Installing an Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System

Anhydrous ammonia is typically used in refrigeration systems in a number of industries, including: Cold storage warehouses and ice plants, Meat, poultry, or fish processing centers, Dairy and ice cream plants, Wineries and breweries, Fruit/vegetable juice and soft drink processing facilities, and Petrochemical facilities. Tips for Installing Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigerant Systems Install self-closing valves or […]

RMP—No Release but a Huge Fine Anyway

It’s hard to swallow a huge fine for what might have happened. But, as part of its efforts to comply with the president’s EO to improve safety and security at chemical facilities, the EPA is hunting down companies that are required to develop RMPs but have not even though there has not been a release […]

New Guidance for Chemical Facilities Calls for IST

In response, in part, to the EO, the EPA has: Issued a request for information (RFI) seeking public comment on updating its risk management program (RMP) regulation, and a notice of proposed rulemaking is being prepared.  The Agency is looking for specific feedback on whether the list of RMP-regulated substances should be modified by adding […]

TRI—the Now and Future Things, con’t

As we mentioned in yesterday’s Advisor, the EPA is considering adding nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to the TRI list. At this point, that addition is not yet proposed. Here’s a look at the chemicals that the EPA has actually proposed for TRI listing. 1-Bromopropane (CAS 106-94-5) Last April, the EPA proposed that 1-bromopropane be added to […]