Sen. Chuck Schumer announced today that OSHA, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed to create new protocols requiring notifications and coordination with local governments & emergency services when a company is cited with serious violations in wake of the deadly chemical explosion and fire at a cosmetic factory. In January, Sen. Schumer launched the effort to ensure local governments are notified when companies are cited for mishandling flammable and/or hazardous materials.
OSHA, along with EPA and DHS, make up the Chemical Facility Security and Safety Working Group, which will coordinate strategies, activities, policies and communication across governmental entities to address concerns that there should be an immediate and more thorough improvement of OSHA’s coordination and communication systems to local municipalities and their respective stakeholders. Specifically, the Chemical Facility Security and Safety Working Group is moving forward with a new partnership between the agencies regarding the coordination of communication between state and local governments when there is a serious violation cited. The protocol intends to address the lack of communication with local first responders, safety and training agreements, and coordination on information sharing about all the relevant agencies when a local company is cited for serious violations.
Specifically, the Chemical Facility Security and Safety Working Group is tasked with: