Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The HAZWOPER standard has an impact on wastewater treatment
plants, which often surprises wastewater treatment plant management
personnel. To determine whether or not HAZWOPER impacts them, plant
managers should perform a site survey designed to account for and list
all hazardous materials. For example, if a wastewater treatment plant
uses more than 10 pounds of chlorine in its process, it must be prepared
to manage or mitigate an accidental release of chlorine to comply with
the HAZWOPER standard.
The site emergency response plan for wastewater treatment plants
should include medical emergency instructions, fire emergency plans,
and chemical release emergency plans. In addition, the plant emergency
response plan should include an emergency evacuation plan, a chemi-
cal/safety equipment location diagram, and hazardous materials system
line diagrams. Also, use of the DOT
emergency response guidebook
as
the primary reference manual is highly recommended.
The plant's emergency response plan should be user friendly.
Emergency response plans that are written by technical personnel are
usually slanted toward a technical point of view understood and read-
ily utilized by technical personnel. This can defeat the intended pur-
pose of developing quick, correct, safe mitigation procedures. Moreover,
making emergency response highly technical or complicated defeats the
purpose of making the plan user friendly. Workers must be fully aware of
the plan's requirements and their own individual responsibilities.
The site emergency response plan should be written around two
main objectives: (1) minimize the short-term or immediate hazards to
the public, the responders, and the environment; and (2) ensure the
recovery and long-term use of the affected plant site. Accomplishing the
first objective may necessitate taking short-term actions that will delay
or prolong accomplishment of the second objective; however, it is clear
that these objectives must be accomplished in sequence.
Responding to a release of chlorine requires extensive training in
chlorine repair kit use, chemical protective equipment, and respiratory
protection. In addition, the plant emergency response team must coor-
dinate its response efforts with other local emergency response teams.
The plant must have a designated emergency response coordinator who
is trained to coordinate the plant's response to chemical release.
1.13.12.1 Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency Response Plan
The wastewater treatment plant's emergency response plan states
the organization's policies and procedures for dealing with emergen-
cies. All workers should be familiar with the plant's plan. Emergency
response plans must be preapproved by local authorities when outside
help, such as the local HazMat team or fire department, would normally
be called to the scene to assist. The plan must list emergency phone
numbers. These emergency numbers should be posted near all of the
plant phones.
