Chillicothe Municipal Utilities - Executive Summary |
|
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION The Chillicothe Municipal Utilities Water Treatment Plant have taken several safety measures to prevent a chlorine gas release. The water treatment plant has installed new automatic shut off valves that will activate if chlorine gas is detected and new monitoring systems which will indicate the location of a chlorine gas leak. All chlorine equipment is checked on a routine basis and serviced accordingly to manufactures recommendations. Chillicothe Municipal Utilities is committed to provide a safe environment for the residents of the City of Chillicothe. All water plant personnel will be trained in chemical awareness and safe handling of chemicals. The water treatment plant will continue to upgrade safety equipment as it becomes available to us. CHILLICOTHE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND THE REGULATED SUBSTANCE HANDLED The Chillicothe Municipal Utilities Water Treatment Plant is a 4.5 million gallon per day water supply for the city of Chillicothe, MO. The source of water supply is alluvial wells. This water is of good quality but is highly mineralized. The treatment process uses calcium oxide (lime) for removal of much of these minerals, commonly known as softening. Sodium Aluminate is added as a softening aid and for clarification. Carbon dioxide gas is available when needed to make the water non corrosive as it is delivered to consumer. Chlorine gas is added in controlled quantities to destroy any organisms that could cause disease. A fluoride compound is added for the prevention of tooth decay. As a final process, the water flows through dual media filters for removal of any suspended material before being delivered to the consumer. Chlorine gas is a regulated substance and the water treatment plant has on site 6,000 pounds. WORST CASE RELEASE SCENARIO Chillicothe's worst case scenario is a release of 2,000 pounds in 10 minutes. A total release would cover an area of 0.90 mile. This release would have offsite impact. The offsite impact would include, schools, major industry, prison, recreation areas and residences. The model plan used to determine the distance is the (EPA'S RMP*COMP)(TM) program. ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO Chillicothe's alternative release scenario is a release of 900 pounds in 30 minutes. This release would cover an area of 0.01 mile. This release would have offsite impact. The offsite impact would be major industry. There would be no schools, prisons, recreation areas or residences in the alternative release scenario. The model plan used to determine the distance is the (EPA'S RMP*COMP)(TM) program. The safety equipment installed on the chlorination equipment will automatically shut down if chlorine gas is detected in the chlorine cylinder room or the chlorination room eliminating the possibility of an undetected chlorine release. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION As mentioned in the above paragraphs the Chillicothe water treatment plant w ill begin intense training in chemical awareness and handling with all personnel. The water treatment plant has install safety equipment that will help reduce the possibility of a chlorine release. New safety equipment will be installed as it becomes available. FIVE YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY Chillicothe water treatment plant has had no accidental chlorine releases in the last five years. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE Chillicothe Municipal Utilities Process Safety Management/ Water Department Risk Management Program Revision No. Date April 13,1999 ____________________________________________________________ EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that Chillicothe Municipal Utilities maintains up-to-date and complete written emergency action plans (EAPs) and effective response capabilities for all covered processes. Comprehensive emergency action plans, when combined with emergency response train ing and drills, can effectively minimize the impact of an accidental release by ensuring proper and quick facility response. SCOPE Emergency action plans are required for all facilities with OHSA PSM and/or EPA RMP regulated processes that conduct emergency response. This procedure outlines Chillicothe Municipal Utilities plan for updating and maintaining the existing emergency action plans. RESPONSIBILITIES The Plant Superintendent and RMP Program Manager will be responsible for implementing and maintaining this procedure. Emergency action plan reviews and updates, and emergency response training will be coordinated by the RMP Program Manager. Training will be scheduled and coordinated by the RMP Program Manager., Training will be conducted by qualified in-house staff or outside resource (i.e., consultant, vendor, or other experts). The Plant Superintendent will ensure that the emergency response team is adequately staffed and the required equipment is supplied and maintained. Th e Plant Superintendent will coordinate with the community response organization. Updating Existing EAPs The EAP will be reviewed annually to ensure that they are current and comply with OHSA PSM and EPA RMP regulations. An updated EAP will be prepared that will provide up-to-date, facility-specific information and procedures in the following sections: * Emergency evacuation procedures, routes, and safe assembly points. Immediately evacuate all personnel by first moving at right angles to the wind direction until clear of the exposure area. Assemble at the power plant. * Procedures for recognizing emergencies, securing incident areas, and responding to releases and leaks. An emergency situation will be when the automatic valves or the manual valves do not shut the chlorine cylinder off. Securing the incident area will be conducted by the police department. Most of the incident area is owned by the City. All personnel responding to a release or leak will meet at the assembly po int. Personnel will then be briefed on the situation and how they plan to repair or stop the leak. * Procedures for accounting for all personnel following an evacuation. Since most shifts are worked by one employee, they will call to report that they have reached the assembly point and no other employee's are located in the evacuated building. * Emergency first aid procedures for exposure to hazardous chemicals. Inhalation: Immediately remove patient upwind from contaminated area. If patient is breathing place in a comfortable position; keep warm and at rest until a physician arrives. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth. In all above circumstances, call a physician as soon as possibly. Rest is recommended after chlorine exposure. Eye or Skin Contact: Immediately flush eyes with water (soap and water for skin) for at least 15 minutes, while removing contaminated clothing. If irritation occurs, con sult a physician. Never attempt chemical neutralization! Do not give medication except under specific instructions from a physician. Ingestion: Throat irritation: drinking milk may help relieve the discomfort of throat irritation from chlorine exposure. Coughing: Hot coffee or tea is often used to alleviate coughing induced by chlorine exposure. Notes to Physicians (including antidotes) Treat patients of chlorine overexposure symptomatically. Also, observe and treat for possible onset pulmonary edema, which may be delayed. * Procedures for notifying the public and local emergency response agencies of a release. The operators first call from the assembly point will be to the fire department to report a leak and secondly to the police department to notify the public in our toxic zone to evacuate. * Reportable quantities of chemical and petrochemical product accidental release. A reportable chlorine gas release is 10 pounds. * Procedures for use, inspection, testing, and maintenanc e of emergency response equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g.,,SCBA, A-suits, B-kits, etc.). The Chillicothe Municipal Utilities water department has the local vendor inspect, test and maintain the emergency response equipment on a yearly basis. * List of facility personnel by title and/or name who can provide additional information regarding the contents of the EAP. Randy Hamilton Water Systems Supt. * A description of the facility alarm system and meaning of individual alarm signals, including the evacuation alarm. The water plants alarm system consist of two chlorine alarms. One alarm system is located in the chlorine cylinder room and the other alarm system is located in chlorination room. Both alarms sends a signal to the control panel which has an audible alarm and a visual alarm. * List of facility personnel currently assigned as members of the emergency response team and description of personnel roles during an emergency. Randy Hamilton Emergen cy Coordinator Robert Triska Hazmat training Lynn Moritz Hazmat training The two employees with training will assist the Fire Department in repair or shut down of the system. * Training requirements and frequency for emergency response team members and all facility personnel. Emergency response members will attend a refresher course on hazmat training on a yearly basis. All facility personnel will attend chemical handling and chemical awareness classes on a yearly basis. EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING Chillicothe Municipal Utilities will conduct awareness-level emergency response training of all personnel on-site. In addition, all personnel who are emergency response team members will receive response-level training, depending on assigned duties and responsibilities in an emergency. A draft outline of the emergency response training program is provided in the EAPs. Refresher training of sufficient content and duration will be provided annually to all emergency response tea m personnel. The intent of refresher training is to ensure all emergency response personnel maintain a required level of competency. The Plant Superintendent and selected operators and mechanics will typically be designated as emergency response team members. MAINTAINING EAPs The RMP Program Manager and selected response team members will annually review the EAP to ensure that it is current and accurate. The EAP will be updated to reflect modifications to the covered systems at the Chillicothe Water Department, response procedures, emergency PPE and equipment, training topics, changes in facility layout or personnel, or whenever otherwise necessary. RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS EAPs shall be maintained in the control rooms to allow routine access by all facility personnel. Emergency response training documentation will be maintained by the RMP Program Manager. The RMP Program Manager will track the completion of the necessary training and maintain training records. Emergency respon se team training records must include the following information: Employee name: Topic of training: Date of training: Training duration: Proficiency test records: Employee signature certifying understanding of training. Presentation and handout materials. |