Blackman Uhler Chemical Company - Executive Summary |
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Blackman Uhler Chemical Company, located in Augusta, Ga., manufactures specialty organic chemicals. The manufacture of these products requires the use of hazardous materials. As a chemical manufacturer, Blackman Uhler Chemical takes it's responsibility to our employees and our community very seriously. We accept the responsibility for identifying and managing the risks associated with hazardous chemicals by adhering to company safety, health and environmental policies that require us to make safety, health and environmental considerations a priority in our current operations and our planning and development of new products. It is also our policy to adhere to all federal, state and local rules and regulations governing the protection of our employees, the community and the environment. Should an emergency involving hazardous materials occur, our emergency response plan is designed to warn and protect both our employees and the community. This plan has been reviewed with bo th the local fire department and emergency response planning personnel. Blackman Uhler Chemical Co. is a batch processor of organic speciality chemicals. Our products are used in textile, petroleum, photographic, pharmaceutical, agricultural and fiber products. In our speciality chemical production we use methyl chloride which is considered hazardous by the EPA. Methyl chloride is a gas. It is received at our facility by tank truck and stored in a specially designed storage tank. The maximum amount of methyl chloride on site is 48,087 pounds. The complete failure of the methyl chloride storage tank resulting in the loss of the entire 48,087 pounds of product would be the worst case release scenario for this product at this facility. Computer modeling of this scenario indicates off site impacts. An alternate release scenario could occur as a result of the overfilling and resulting overpressurization of the storage tank resulting in the loss of approximately 1918 pound s of product. The relief valve system would close at the design pressure preventing the entire loss of the tank contents. Computer modeling of this scenario indicates minimal off site impact. To reduce the potential for release of hazardous chemicals, Blackman Uhler Chemical has developed a risk management system covering all aspects of our facility from design and construction, through start-up and operation, to maintenance and training. Blackman Uhler Chemical complies with the rules and regulations contained in OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard. Our facility employs a team of specifically trained employees including Environment and Safety staff, Engineers, Chemists, Production Supervisors and Production Employees that use industry accepted methods for analyzing, reviewing and minimizing risks involved with our processes. From this analysis, specific detailed operating procedures are developed and training on these procedures conducted for all production employees. Blackman Uhler Chemical Co. Has never had an accidental release of methyl chloride resulting in any injuries, damage or evacuation, on site or off site. Blackman Uhler Chemical Co. has developed an emergency response plan designed to warn and protect both our employees and the surrounding community. The plan contains detailed notification procedures for on site personnel as well as off site emergency response agencies. These plans have been reviewed with the appropriate off site emergency response personnel and emergency planning agencies. Procedures for the notification and evacuation, if necessary, of the surrounding community have also been reviewed. The facility has an emergency response team specifically trained according to the EPA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response regulations. All employees receive training in the facility emergency response plan. Blackman Uhler Chemical Co. feels that the risk management systems and emergency response pr ogram have proven to be effective thus far in our production history. However, we are continuously analyzing, reviewing, modifying and improving these systems and programs. It is our policy to strive for continuous improvement in every thing that we do in order to provide quality products to our customers, a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and a clean environment for our communtiy. |