Has saturation media coverage of the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion that killed 11 workers on April 20 and spawned the country’s worst peacetime environmental catastrophes served a wake-up call to private industry?
How many worksites beyond the oil and gas industries - from small chemical storage facilities to complex manufacturing operations - have reviewed and rehearsed their emergency response programs?
Opinions are mixed, according to environmental health and safety experts we contacted.
Some companies will always “get religion” following a publicized disaster. “A major incident certainly does ratchet up (hazmat) programs,” says safety consultant Tom Drake.
In fact, four large oil companies are committing $1 billion to set up a system to to deal with oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.
Other operations remain complacent or in denial. “Reassessment of risk management work has to come from the top down,” writes industrial hygienist Aaron Chen in an email. “Each company looks at things in a very centrist perspective. Meaning? ‘Our company must have good risk management systems already in place, so no need to worry.’ It really does take a STRONG push from senior managers in any company to drive to strong risk management. Many companies have not been doing it well over the last 12-15 years.
“Personally, I don’t believe there will be major changes in most organizations. Most companies don’t believe they are vulnerable.”
Consultant Zack Mansdorf is guardedly optimistic: “I do think this will increase attention to spill response measures and also help with resources for EHS professionals as they can use the BP story to show what could happen. It will be good for at least a couple of years, but many will not be able to relate drilling at sea and land-based industrial operations.”
At minimum, what should you be doing for emergency preparedness and response? OSHA has various safety and health standards to steer employers through emergencies. Two of import: Means of Egress, 1910.38, Emergency action plans; and 1910.120(q) of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard.
To learn more about OSHA’s requirements, go to www.osha.gov, click on the “A-Z topic index,” and click on emergency preparedness and response.
OSHA’s Means of Egress standard states: An employer must have an emergency action plan whenever an OSHA standard in this part requires one. Requirements include: