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Freetown Mock Chemical Release Drill

AIMCAL R2R ConferenceOctober 8, 2019 - Myrtle Beach, SC

Dr. Ken McCarthyClean Room Coating Solutions151 Flint Locke DriveDuxbury, MA 02332617-549-4620(C)[email protected]

Clean Room CoatingSolutions


Today we will talk about the importance of:

• First, having an Emergency Response Plan• Second, exercising that plan

When an emergency occurs, there are all sorts of responses in people. An Emergency Response Plan helps organize and direct the actions of an organization to deal with the emergency in a safe and effective manner.


We will talk about Emergency Response Plans in the context of a mock chemical release drill held at Polaroid’s former chemical production facility in Freetown, MA, in 1994.• Background• Polaroid Freetown manufactured key materials of the

Polaroid imaging materials, including two of the three imaging dyes in Polaroid film.

• Twenty five other chemicals unique to Polaroid Freetown were manufactured on-site and used in various Polaroid imaging materials.


Further information:• 1991 DEP air emissions inspection – several issues• Air emission Consent Decree for Polaroid Freetown• “We don’t know.”• Production shut down until 99% cryogenic air abatement

system put in place – operational in 9 months


• Going forward, we had two main goals:- minimize environmental impact- re-establish community relations

• Mock Drill• Time Line, with actions taken (as best recalled)• Findings• Reflections


Participants:• Polaroid HSE• Polaroid Freetown Organization• Fall River Fire Department• Freetown Fire Department• Massachusetts Hazard Response Team• Solvent Delivery Trucking Company


Known elements of The Drill:• Date, but not time • Environmental issue• Defined by Polaroid HSE• No impact on production• One hour max

Tank Farm

Power Plant

Production

PilotPlant

Offices , Warehouse

DrumStorage

Mother’s Brook


Timeline:• 10:15 AM Truck driver notified security of a leaking valve on his truck• 10:15 AM Emergency Coordinator and Spill Response Team notified• 10:17 AM Emergency Coordinator, assistant, and support personnel

assemble at Site Security desk; obtain details of release as known; and start review of Emergency Response Plan

• 10:18 AM Production operators on the Spill Response Team are closest to spill location and are asked to don spill response suits and other protective gear; evaluate extent of spill; bring spill cart to location of spill; and report information to emergency coordinator


Tank Truck

Outflow

Hazmat Suit

Hazmat Suit


Timeline (continued):• 10:23 AM After discussion with on-scene personnel, emergency coordinator

asks operators to start mitigation to contain spill before it enters on-site brook (Mother’s Brook)

• 10:25AM Security reports Fall River and Freetown Fire Departments have arrived at the site entrance – deputy emergency coordinator is asked to meet the fire departments and escort them to Site Security desk.

• 10:35 AM Operators set up containment just before spill reaches outflow. Operators report that tank truck has belly shut-off valve and ask for authorization to activate it to stop leak

• 10:40 AM Emergency coordinator, after assessing the safety aspects of approaching the truck, authorizes the operators to approach the truck cautiously, to make sure the truck engine is off, and close the shut-off valve as carefully as possible.


Timeline (continued):• 10:45 AM Operators report shut-off valve has been activated and

leak has stopped; operators are asked to continue clean-up and verify that no leaked material has entered the brook.

• 10:50 AM Emergency Coordinator contacts deputy and asks for update on the Fire Departments; deputy reports MA Hazmat Team has arrived and discussions are continuing.

• 11:00 AM Emergency Coordinator is requested to meet the responding agencies at the site entrance – pleasantries are exchanged – Polaroid HSE declares the drill has been completed.


Findings• Freetown and Fall River took 45 minutes to determine

who had responsibility – 95% of the site property is in Freetown and 5% is in Fall River. However, Fall River has a larger and more highly trained Fire Department.

• Polaroid Freetown Spill Response Team functioned well.• Preparation and maintenance of spill response materials

has been adequate (important to continue to maintain).


Reflections• Freetown 9,339 population• Mostly volunteer fire department• Fall River 89,420 population• Mostly professional fire department• Need to resolve question of leadership in emergencies at

Polaroid Freetown


Reflections:• Establishing a working relationship with both the

Freetown Fire Department Command and Fall River Fire Department Command is an important goal.

• Polaroid Freetown needs to practice a medical emergency to test our response (80/10/10).

• Having a mock drill on an off-shift is an important goal.• Simulating a fire emergency is an important goal.


Reflections:• Stay calm• In an emergency, events and time move quickly.• It is vital to have a second pair of eyes with the

Emergency Coordinator.


Should you have an Emergency Response Plan?• Absolutely!!!• Resources:

- NFPA Emergency Prep Checklist- OSHA “How to Plan for Emergencies and Evacuations”- Chemical Safety Board- AIChE CCPS Hazop Studies and Other PHA Techniques for

Process Safety and Risk Management


NFPA Emergency Preparedness Checklist• Program management• Planning • Risk Assessment• Business Impact Assessment• Resource Needs Assessment• Implementation• Communications• Emergency Operations/Response• Business Continuity and Recovery• Training & Education/Exercises and Tests• Program Maintenance and Improvement

Thank YouQuestions?


AIMCAL R2R ConferenceOctober 8, 2019 - Myrtle Beach, SC

Dr. Ken McCarthyClean Room Coating Solutions151 Flint Locke DriveDuxbury, MA 02332617-549-4620(C)[email protected]

Clean Room CoatingSolutions

freetown mock chemical release drill - aimcal.org · freetown mock chemical release drill. today we...

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