The Canadian Chemical Producers' Association Codes of Practice: Transportation

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 all aspects of the transportation of chemicals and chemical products, including hazardous wastes, by all modes from their source to their destination.

Practice of this code is intended to result in:

* continuous improvement in safety, and reduction of accidents which can result in injury to people and to the environment during the transportation cycle;
* effective emergency response to transportation accidents which minimizes injury to people and damage to the environment;
* the assurance that the management systems necessary for responsible transportation activities are in place and are functioning effectively;
* cooperation with the transportation industry in reducing risks associated with the carriage of chemicals;
* public, employee and transporter confidence in the transportation of chemicals and chemical products as a result of the effectiveness of the above.

Guiding Principles

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

i) transport chemicals and chemical products in a manner which minimizes risk of injury to the general population along transportation routes, persons involved in the transportation cycle, and the environment;
ii) provide information about the hazards and associated risks of chemicals and chemical products and their control in transportation emergencies, to transporters, first responders and to people potentially exposed. Such information shall be updated periodically and be readily available in the event of an emergency;
iii) make Responsible Care an early and integral part of the planning of new product introduction, the design of new facilities or the significant modification of existing facilities;
iv) know the laws and regulations concerning all phases of transportation, including the response to transportation emergencies, and meet or exceed them in letter and in spirit;
v) be sensitive and responsive to community concerns about the transportation of chemicals;
vi) assist the transportation industry in meeting this code of practice as it applies to their operations;
vii) work actively to assist governments in developing public policies, legislation and regulations governing the transportation of chemicals and chemical products.

Code of Practice

1. General
Each member company shall have written policies, standards and procedures which govern all aspects of the transportation of chemicals and chemical products, including hazardous wastes. Responsibility shall be clearly defined for generating, implementing, auditing and updating them, and for taking corrective action. These policies, standards and procedures shall meet or exceed all applicable laws and regulations in letter and in spirit.

Each member company shall identify and evaluate on a regular basis the hazards and associated risks to people and the environment from the transportation cycle, and provide information about these hazards and associated risks to employees and transporters.

Each member company shall work actively, alone or through selected organizations, and, if possible, in consultation with other affected stakeholders, to assist governments in developing public policies, legislation and regulations governing the transportation of chemicals.

Chemicals will not be shipped unless this can be done in accordance with this code.

2. Accident Prevention
Each member company shall have an active program designed to continuously improve safety and to prevent accidents during the transportation cycle which:

2.1 establishes criteria for selecting the mode of transport, the specifications for the transportation equipment and container, and inspection and maintenance of these during use;
2.2 establishes criteria for selecting carriers which include safety performance and programs, inspection and maintenance procedures for equipment, selection and training of drivers and support staff, and assistance to carriers in meeting these criteria;
2.3 identifies alternate transportation modes and routes which minimize the exposure of people and environmentally sensitive areas to the hazards inherent in the transportation mode;
2.4 establishes standards for equipment used in loading and unloading containers including containment and emergency response facilities in the event of an accidental release;
2.5 provides procedures, training and performance assessment for persons who load or unload the containers;
2.6 deals effectively with the risks involved in the return, cleaning, reuse, servicing and disposal of containers;
2.7 clearly identifies the contents of containers;
2.8 audits and updates all program components on a regular basis.

3. Emergency Response
Each member company shall have an up-to-date and operational transportation emergency response plan which:

3.1 identifies and describes means for dealing with the hazards, whether to people or the environment, and ways of containing and cleaning up the release;
3.2 identifies emergency response resources whether in-house, through a mutual-aid plan such as TEAP (Transportation Emergency Assistance Plan) or from a contractor, to be deployed in the case of an accident involving the company's chemicals or chemical products;
3.3 provides technical advisors to handle all informational aspects of an accident involving the company's chemicals and chemical products, including media relations;
3.4 provides specialized equipment and materials required for responding to an accident;
3.5 provides training and regular performance assessment of company emergency response personnel;
3.6 provides assistance, through the association, in training first responders along the transportation corridors;
3.7 provides for cooperation with government or other agencies at the accident scene;
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 transportation accident;
3.9 is documented, field-tested, audited, and updated at least annually.

4. Awareness Concerning Transportation
Each member company shall have a program, consistent with the CCPA's right-to-know policy, which enables it to respond to questions from those along transportation corridors. This program shall include:

4.1 key elements of the policies, standards and procedures which reduce hazards, prevent accidents and provide prompt, effective response in the event of an accident;
4.2 available information on the hazards and associated risks of chemicals and chemical products moving along the transportation corridors;
4.3 identification and training of employees responsible for answering questions;
4.4 provision for participation in, and coordination with, a program the association will operate in conjunction with carriers in raising awareness concerning transportation;
4.5 periodic assessment and updating of the program.

Typical Elapsed Time from Start

1. Coordinator appointed and aware of code requirements.

3 months

2. Management aware of code requirements.

6 months

3. Management assessment of action and resource needs completed.

12 months

4. Assessment results communicated to those who will be involved in planning and implementing action.

15 months

5. Plans developed.

18 months

6. Plans implemented.

36 months