In today's society, the environmental engineer working for an industrial facility with hazardous materials has an obligation to be fully prepared when it comes to emergency situations. Whether it's working on a team to design a new chemical process, preparing a standard operating procedure for storing a hazardous material or training a new operator how to safely transport hazardous waste, it is the environmental engineer that must put plans in place to safely address hazardous material emergencies in such a way to minimize impact to people and the environment. To be successful with Emergency Preparedness, it is crucial that the environmental engineer fully understand the following requirements prior to preparing and implementing site specific, comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan:
- Extensive knowledge of all applicable environmental, health and safety regulations pertaining to hazardous material storage and use
- Commitment from upper management for funding, developing and implementing aggressive safety and environmental plans and programs
- Commitment from all levels within the facility that designing safety into hazardous material processes must be an integral part of the facility's culture
- Developing safety and environmental training programs that stress the importance of emergency preparedness
- Ongoing internal support from employees participating on the Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) team
- Working closely with regulatory officials and Local Emergency Planning Committees to notify and communicate information on hazardous materials and emergency plans
This project provides environmental engineers the tools and resources required to minimize the potential for a hazardous material release and build an Emergency Preparedness Plan to suit industrial facilities with hazardous materials. By incorporating this type of plan into a facility, this world will be a safer and healthier place to live.
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