The Canadian Chemical Producers' Association Codes of Practice: Community Awareness and Emergency Response

Purpose

The member companies of the Canadian Chemical Producers' Association (CCPA) are committed, as a condition of membership, to the policy of "Responsible Care". This code governs member company actions in meeting the guiding principles of that policy as they relate to community understanding and protection.

Practice of this code is intended to result in:

* a harmonious understanding of each other's rights, responsibilities, concerns, needs, resources and mutual benefits;
* a cooperative sharing of these in joint plans and actions which will inform and protect the community and the company and protect the environment;
* the confidence of the community and employees and other people on site that they know the hazards and associated risks of company operations that could have an impact on them and that they and the environment are protected from these hazards;
* a company/community image which can be projected with pride to wider communities.

Guiding Principles

The regular principles of this code as they reflect those of the "Statement of Policy on Responsible Care" are:

i) Know community concerns and respond sensitively to them;

ii) Provide information about the hazards and associated risks of chemicals, chemical products and operations to employees, other people on site and those in the community who have an interest;

iii) Manage operations in a manner which protects people and the environment from hazards;

iv) Know the laws and regulations concerning community right-to-know and community emergency response, and meet or exceed them in letter and in spirit;

v) Apply this code to existing, modified and new chemicals, chemical products, processes, equipment and facilities;

vi) Work actively to assist governments in developing public policies, legislation and regulations governing community awareness and emergency response.

Code of Practice

1. General
Each member company research and development, manufacturing, distribution and waste management site shall have an active community awareness and emergency response program. The site manager has the primary responsibility to generate, implement, field-test, audit and update this program, including its written policies and procedures. This program shall meet or exceed all applicable laws and regulations in letter and in spirit.

Each member company site shall have training criteria commensurate with CAER program requirements, conduct regular performance assessments and maintain employee competence.

Each member company shall work actively, alone or through selected organizations, and, if possible, in consultation with affected stakeholders, to assist governments in developing public policies, legislation and regulations governing community awareness and emergency response.

Some site activities shall be restricted if they cannot be performed in compliance with the emergency response requirements of this code.

2. Community Awareness
There shall be an active community awareness program, consistent with the CCPA's community right-to-know policy which:

2.1 identifies and updates a listing of organizations and people which represent community interests;
2.2 identifies and updates a listing of community rights, responsibilities, concerns, needs and resources;
2.3 develops information for both responsive and proactive communication with the community;
2.4 includes a regular process of communication with the community;
2.5 identifies and trains company participants for this communication process;
2.6 provides a system to measure and assess program activities and results.

3. Emergency Response
There shall be an up-to-date, operational emergency plan which:

3.1 is based on a site specific risk assessment, which identifies and evaluates on a regular basis those situations where company materials, processes or equipment could have an impact on site and/or on the community in the event of an emergency;
3.2 provides information from this assessment on hazards and associated risks to employees, other people on site and those in the community who have an interest;
3.3 is based upon an emergency plan framework developed by site management to both address such emergency situations and to assist authorities in emergency response planning for neighbouring industry and the community;
3.4 requires active participation, cooperation and coordination by company personnel with local officials and the media during development and communication of the plan to the community;
3.5 integrates the company's emergency response plan with those of industrial neighbours and the community into a community emergency response plan;
3.6 is communicated regularly, in its key elements, to the community in a manner which recognizes its right-to-know, in order to gain its cooperation and support;
3.7 in an emergency makes available to first responders and the community company expertise and specialized equipment and materials;
3.8 is sensitive to and provides for evaluation with appropriate authorities of the need for immediate and short term assistance for persons who are dislocated by a company site emergency;
3.9 is documented, field tested, audited and updated at least annually.