Disaster Preparedness / Chemical Threats
Chemical threats come from the accidental or intentional release of toxic vapors, gases, aerosols, liquids, and solids that are harmful to people, animals, or plants. They can be released by bombs or sprayed from aircraft, boats, and vehicles. They can be used as a liquid to create a hazard to people and the environment. They can escape from leaks in pipelines, tanker trucks or railroad cars, or storage containers. Some chemicals may be odorless and tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (2 to 48 hours). In some chemical incidents, the chemicals disperse quickly; in others, the chemicals may leave a residue.
A chemical incident could occur without warning. Signs of a chemical incident include people having difficulty breathing; experiencing eye irritation; losing coordination; becoming nauseated; or having a burning sensation in the nose, throat, and lungs. Also, the presence of many dead insects or birds may indicate a chemical agent release.
These Web sites give you some information about preventing, preparing for, and responding to chemical incidents:
Note: The following links are provided as a resource only. The content provided was not prepared by the Pittsburgh Regional Business Coalition for Homeland Security (PRBCHS), and is not necessarily endorsed by(PRBCHS).
Centers for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has created a Web site that offers information for professionals and the general public on chemical incidents, including a list of chemical agents.
Pittsburgh Poison Center
The Pittsburgh Poison Center is our region’s central resource for poison help, including specific information for business and industry and about biochemical acts of terrorism.
Health Protection Agency Chemicals and Poisons Division
The United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency’s Chemicals and Poisons Division 's Strategic Goal is to anticipate and prevent the adverse effects of acute and chronic exposure to hazardous chemicals and other poisons. Their Web site provides checklists for a responding to a variety of chemical incidents.
Environmental Protection Agency Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) provides leadership, builds partnerships, and offers technical assistance to: prevent and prepare for chemical emergencies; respond to environmental crises; inform the public about chemical hazards in their community; and share lessons learned about chemical accidents.
CHEMTREC
The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC) serves as a round-the-clock resource for obtaining immediate emergency response information for accidental chemical releases. CHEMTREC is linked to the largest network of chemical and hazardous material experts in the world including chemicals and response specialists within the carrier community, public emergency services, and private contractors. CHEMTREC also provides a cost-effective method for shippers of hazardous materials to comply with federal regulations.
Responsible Care® Toolkit
The American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care Toolkit site offers the latest version of the Council’s Security code, a management system for implementing environmental health and safety protection, and guidance documents for a safer chemical industry.
Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS)
The CCPS is a not-for-profit, corporate membership organization within the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that identifies and addresses process safety needs within the chemical, pharmaceutical, and petroleum industries. CCPS brings together manufacturers, government agencies, consultants, academia and insurers to lead the way in improving industrial process safety. Of particular interest to the business community is the Corporate Crisis Management document (PDF) that offers detailed guidance for all facets of managing a chemical incident from prevention to recovery.