제 목 : Chemical Safety Alerts Warn of Harzards
일 자 : 1997년 09월
제공처 : Safety + health(EPA Update)
Four Chemical Safety Alerts issued recently by the EPA are designed to
warn industry officials about significant hazards that resulted from
chemical accident investigations.
Some of those investigations were conducted with the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration.
EPA issues such alerts when significant hazards are discovered in
the course of accident investigations.
These alerts caution facilities, state emergency response commisions,
local emergency planning committees, emergency responders and others
to reduce risks and prevent future accidents. The four most recent
alerts warn of:
ㅇ Aboveground storage tanks that may be prone to catastrophic failure
ㅇ Pressure vessels that are not properly designed, constructed,
operated, inspected, tested and repaired
ㅇ Lightning strikes that can cause devastating accidents at refineries,
bulk plants, processing sites another facilities
ㅇ Activated carbon systems used to absorb vapors that may pose a fire
hazard
The chemical industry welcomed the alerts as helpful "lessons learned,
according to Maureen Wood, manager of" health, safety and research for
the ChemicaI Manufacturers Association. "If an accident occurs, there
are ways you can parlay what you've learned into lessons for the industry"
she says. "A common aspect of preventing accidents is explaining to others
why they happened."
For a copy of the Chemical Safety Alerts, contact the EPA's Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Hotline at (800)424-9346,
or visit its web site at http://www.epa.gov.swercepp/.
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