SERC-TERC Update: August 2023
Mention of non-EPA documents, presentations, training opportunities and conferences does not constitute an U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment that they exist and may be relevant to the SERC-TERC audience.
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Regulatory and Policy Information Related to Chemical Safety & Security
Department of Labor Announces Rule Expanding Submission Requirements for Injury, Illness Data Provided by Employers in High-Hazard Industries
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule that will require certain employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information – that they are already required to keep – to the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The final rule takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and now includes the following submission requirements:
- Establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries must electronically submit information from their Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report to OSHA once a year. These submissions are in addition to submission of Form 300A-Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
- To improve data quality, establishments are required to include their legal company name when making electronic submissions to OSHA from their injury and illness records.
OSHA will publish some of the data collected on its website to allow employers, employees, potential employees, employee representatives, current and potential customers, researchers and the general public to use information about a company's workplace safety and health record to make informed decisions. OSHA believes that providing public access to the data will ultimately reduce occupational injuries and illnesses.
FEMA Publishes Hazard Mitigation Resource Typing Documents
FEMA’s National Integration Center has published nine Hazard Mitigation resource typing documents. This includes two NIMS-typed Hazard Mitigation teams for operations and planning, and seven positions that make up the teams.
FEMA assembled a stakeholder group comprised of subject-matter experts from federal, state, local and non-governmental entities to review the existing resource types. These efforts resulted in the creation of three new positions and updates to the existing positions and teams that incorporate the latest best practices in hazard mitigation.
These resource typing documents enhance the interoperability and effectiveness of mutual aid by establishing baseline qualifications for Hazard Mitigation NIMS-typed teams and personnel. This facilitates the sharing of deployable resources at all jurisdictional levels. The Hazard Mitigation resource types can be accessed in the Resource Typing Library Tool.
Hot Topics
CSB Releases New Safety Video on 2019 Explosions and Fires at the TPC Group Chemical Plant in Port Neches, Texas
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the serious November 2019 incident at the TPC Group Chemical Plant in Port Neches, Texas. A series of explosions destroyed a portion of the TPC facility, damaged nearby homes and businesses, and prompted a mandatory evacuation of residents living within four miles of the plant. Several workers and members of the public reported injuries and fires burned at the facility for over a month. The incident caused $450 million in on-site property damage and $153 million in off-site property damage to nearby homes and businesses. Media reports indicated that the blast was felt up to 30 miles away. The CSB’s investigation found that the incident at the TPC plant was the result of inadequate management of a hazard called “popcorn polymer,” which is well known to plants, such as TPC, that handle or produce butadiene.
CSB Releases Final Report on 2019 Massive Tank Farm Fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company facility in Deer Park, Texas
The CSB released its final investigation report on the 2019 tank farm fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company, LLC (ITC) bulk liquid storage terminal in Deer Park, Texas. The massive fire caused substantial property damage, significantly impacted the environment, and led to the issuance of several shelter-in-place orders that seriously disrupted the local community.
CSB Releases Investigation Report into Fatal 2020 Explosion at Optima Belle Facility in Belle, West Virginia
The CSB released its final report into the December 8, 2020, fatal incident at Optima Belle LLC (Optima Bell) in Belle, WV. The incident occurred during Optima Belle’s production of a sanitizing compound for Clearon Corporation (Clearon). A dryer at the Optima Belle facility that was removing water from the compound exploded, resulting in the death of an employee and leading to significant property damage and a shelter-in-place order for the neighboring community.
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Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS) Operational Updates
To date, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has received over 108,000 Top-Screen submissions from over 45,000 unique facilities. Of these, CFATS covers 3,265 facilities. Additionally, the program has completed 4,696 Authorization Inspections, 10,878 Compliance Inspections, and 10,631 Compliance Assistance Visits.
Training Opportunities
EPA Region V: How to Comply with EPA’s EPCRA and 112(r) Reporting Requirements for Chlorine, Virtual, September 12
EPA Region V is sponsoring a web-based training programs for water and wastewater plant operators, and other facilities that have chlorine in a process. This free webinar will provide participants with the information and tools necessary to comply with EPA’s emergency planning, notification, and reporting requirements for chlorine. For more information and to register click here. For questions, contact Monika Chrzaszcz.
Introduction to CAMEO Chemicals: Training Video
The EPA webinar Introduction to CAMEO Chemicals was held on May 23, 2023. This webinar was led by Len Wallace, EPA Region 1, who provided an overview of CAMEO Chemicals including a live demonstration. For a brief summary of the CAMEO Chemicals program and its capabilities, download the CAMEO Chemicals fact sheet from the link below. This webinar recording will assist first responders, emergency planners, and facility staff to get key information quickly through CAMEO Chemicals.
CAMEO Chemicals is the hazardous chemical database for the CAMEO® software suite, which is used widely to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. CAMEO Chemicals also has a tool to predict possible hazards if chemicals are mixed together. With CAMEO Chemicals, you can search through the extensive chemical database to find chemical datasheets with critical response information, including physical properties, health hazards, information about air and water hazards, and recommendations for firefighting, first aid, and spill response. CAMEO Chemicals is available as a website, mobile website, mobile app, and desktop program. The mobile app and the desktop program formats can be used offline, and the desktop program can share information with other CAMEO suite programs.
Click here to watch the training video
More Information
Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Homeland Security & US Coast Guard
Department of Labor & Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Department of Transportation / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives/ Department of Agriculture