Monday, May 19, 2008
New Jersey Raises The Regulatory Bar For Hazardous Chemicals
NewsDay Today reports that New Jersey will be "mandating regular reviews for safety upgrades at the 89 most dangerous chemical plants, oil refineries, water treatment plants and industrial facilities in the state."
The article states: "'The only way to make plants safer is to deal with the operations themselves, instead of more guards, gates and guns,' said Rick Engler, executive director of the state Work Environment Council. Engler has led a coalition of labor unions, environmental groups and community organizations pushing for the new DEP rules that went into effect last week. Plants have 120 days to prepare their reviews, if they have not already.
For example, a Schweitzer-Mauduit paper mill four miles east of the New Jersey Turnpike in Spotswood was the sixth most dangerous facility in the state a year ago. The poisonous chlorine gas used at the plant had to be shipped in 90-ton rail cars through town, and the plant's worst-case catastrophe could have endangered more than a million people within 14 miles.
In advance of the new rules, though, the paper mill switched to a chlorine dioxide bleach that can be generated on site as needed. In June last year, the company stopped all shipment and storage of chlorine at the site. "
The article states: "'The only way to make plants safer is to deal with the operations themselves, instead of more guards, gates and guns,' said Rick Engler, executive director of the state Work Environment Council. Engler has led a coalition of labor unions, environmental groups and community organizations pushing for the new DEP rules that went into effect last week. Plants have 120 days to prepare their reviews, if they have not already.
For example, a Schweitzer-Mauduit paper mill four miles east of the New Jersey Turnpike in Spotswood was the sixth most dangerous facility in the state a year ago. The poisonous chlorine gas used at the plant had to be shipped in 90-ton rail cars through town, and the plant's worst-case catastrophe could have endangered more than a million people within 14 miles.
In advance of the new rules, though, the paper mill switched to a chlorine dioxide bleach that can be generated on site as needed. In June last year, the company stopped all shipment and storage of chlorine at the site. "
Labels: hazard identifcation, hazardous materials, Industrial Safety
posted by Steve Hudgik - This Safety Blog Post |
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