Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials are substances that, because of their chemical nature, pose a potential risk to life, health or property if they are released. Affecting urban, suburban and rural areas, hazardous material incidents can range from a chemical spill on a highway to groundwater contamination by naturally occurring methane gas.

The good things chemicals bring into our lives are indispensable to us. From industrial chemicals to household detergents and air fresheners, hazardous materials are part of our everyday lives. Hazards can exist during production, storage, transportation, use or disposal.

Although major chemical emergencies are extremely rare, there always remains a chance that one will occur in the community despite the precautions that have been taken by the chemical users/producers and emergency responders. Knowing how to respond safely and appropriately to hazardous material emergencies greatly lessens the chance of serious injury and brings peace of mind. Many communities have Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) that identify industrial hazardous materials and keep the community informed of the potential risk.

The LEPC or your local emergency management agency can assist you in your planning efforts by providing the following information:

Warning Procedures in your local area, such as

Outdoor warning sirens or horns,
Emergency Alert System (EAS) - information provided via radio and television,
All-Call telephoning automated system for sending recorded messages,
News Media - radio, television, cable,
Residential route alerting - messages announced to neighborhoods from vehicles

Community Plans for Response to a hazardous materials incident; and
Storage and use of hazardous chemicals in your local area.

Use this information to evaluate risks to your business. Determine how close you are to factories, freeways or railroads that may produce or transport toxic substances. Be prepared to evacuate the building. An evacuation can last for a few hours or several days.

See the Emergency Evacuation Procedures Checklist (Checklist 1 in Appendix) and Facility Disaster Supplies Kit (Checklist 2 in Appendix) for more important information. Be prepared to Shelter in Place (Checklist 5 in Appendix).

It may be determined by local officials that it is safer to stay indoors until the threat has dissipated rather than evacuate. If you are requested to stay indoors (shelter-in-place) rather than evacuate, follow the instructions given by emergency authorities.

An additional checklist has been provided to incorporate into your Business Continuity Plan: What to Do During and After a Hazardous Materials Incident (Checklist 16 in Appendix in the Guidebook or the checklists page on this site).

If your company uses, stores or generates potentially hazardous materials, you will need to comply with the requirements for the (1) safe handling, transport and disposal of all materials; (2) training of employees in safe practices and (3) development and exercise of emergency procedures. For specific information and guidance, contact your county emergency management agency or your local fire department.

All companies having hazardous chemicals must report annually to the State Emergency Response commission (SERC) for Hazardous materials and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). For information on reporting requirements, go online to the SERC's website for the State’s How-to-Comply Handbook, LEPC locations and all current reporting forms.