City of Aspen Water Department - Executive Summary |
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CITY OF ASPEN Process Safety of Chlorine and Hazardous Chemicals & Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response Program Executive Summary The Process Safety of Chlorine and Hazardous Chemicals & Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response Program has been established for the employees of the City of Aspen, including temporary and contract employees. The written master copy will be available at the City Manager's Office & City Attorney's Office, 2nd floor, City Hall, 130 South Galena Street, Aspen, CO, 81611, 970/920-5199; as well as at The Public Works/Engineering Office, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 303/920-5080; and, at the City of Aspen, Water Treatment Facility Administration Office, under Hazardous Material file 500 Doolittle Drive, Aspen, CO. Contents of the program outline the use of hazardous materials and waste and the threat they pose to employees and the environment. In 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) managed about 275 million metric tons of hazardous waste at licensed Resource Conversation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites. Hazardous chemicals are a serious safety and health problem that continues to endanger human and animal life and environmental quality. Hazardous chemicals are materials that are toxic, flammable or corrosive, can cause fires, explosions, and pollute the air, water and land. Unless hazardous materials are properly managed, treated, stored, or disposed of, they will continue to pollute the environment in an uncontrolled manner. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final standard entitled "Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals" (29 CFR 1910.119) and "Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response" (29 CFR 1910.120), specifically developed to protect workers in hazardous environment and to help them handle and manage hazardous chemicals and wastes safely and effectively. The Response program outlines the protocol in which the City of Aspen will respond to an emergen cy Chlorine incident. The City of Aspen recognizes the need to improve the quality and management of the hazardous chemical work environment and has, therefore, provided this program for the public it serves and its employees. It is meant to provide information, guidelines and training necessary to improve workplace safety and health, thereby reducing the number of injuries and illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous chemicals and wastes. PROGRAM CONTENT This written program is based on the OSHA Hazard Communication regulations found in 20 CFR 1910.119/120, as well as additional requirements put forth by the City of Aspen and/or the State of Colorado. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT The City Manager's Office will provide overall direction and oversight of the Process Safety of Chlorine and Hazardous Chemicals & Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response Program. The City Manager has the responsibility of maintaining adequate records ensuring medical surveillance, and safety trainin g for the employees are consistent with this policy and OSHA standards. The City Attorney's Office and Risk Management functions of the City will be assisted in this program by appropriate departments and divisions in the City of Aspen . 1. City of Aspen Loss Prevention Committee 2. Personnel Department 3. City Manager 4. Environmental Health Department 5. Water Director 6. Engineering/Asset Management 7. Other Departments providing support to the program The Program Coordinator is the City of Aspen City Manager's office. The Program Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the total program, as well as performance of the following specific duties. 1. Coordinate program implementation amongst City Departments, Pitkin County, and the Aspen Fire Protection District . 2. Ensure that program training is conducted for existing personne, new hires, temporary hires, and contract personnel who work in a hazardous materials environment or are assigned duties in this plan 3. Ensure tha t all records and documentation generated by the program are maintained. 4. Provide public information regarding this program and ensure that the public is advised regarding the response to any hazardous material releases potentially affecting health and safety of the public. 5. Ensure that quality assurance audits are conducted on a regularly scheduled basis. 6. File all required reports with pertinent parties. 7. Ensure that the Risk Management Committee receives a quarterly report on the progress of and status of the program. |