As concerns mount over the security of the US’ 15,000 chemical manufacturing and storages sites – if targeted by terrorists many plants could release toxic chemicals or ignite deadly explosions – the US Government has legislated further security improvements for the chemical industry, which has already spent between $2 - $3 billion on security improvements since the 9/11 attacks.One area of risk mitigation that is attracting interest is the use of inherently safer technologies (IST) as an alternative to security. Since perfect access control is an illusive goal, proponents of IST argue that in some cases dangerous chemicals can be replaced by less dangerous chemicals. While there is usually an increased cost involved, a carefully thought out plan may alleviate facilities from the expense of government-mandated security measures and remove the shadow of risk from local communities.
One example, according to the latest print edition of the ASIS Security Management magazine, is the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility in Washington. Blue Plains has replaced lethal chlorine gas with liquid bleach. Although this change has added $2 million to the annual operating bill, the facility has now found a way out of the financially burdensome security regulatory maze.
For more on chemical plant security in the US click on the following links:
http://www.security-int.com/categories/chemical-plant-security/chemical-plant-security.asp
https://www.csialliance.org/issues/chemicalplantsecurity/
The protection of critical facilities will be addressed in the new Securing Critical National Infrastructure Course, due for 2008.
