Mason Discusses Emergency Response at Wichita ASSE Monthly Meeting
iSi's CEO Gary Mason presented Emergency Response Lessons: Chemical Fire, Neodesha, Kansas at the monthly meeting of the Wichita Chapter American Societ...
Gary Mason iSi’s CEO Gary Mason presented “Emergency Response Lessons: Chemical Fire, Neodesha, Kansas” at the monthly meeting of the Wichita Chapter American Society for Safety Engineering (ASSE). Gary discussed the emergency response actions for a chemical fire which broke out right before Thanksgiving 2016 in Neodesha, Kansas. Gary represented KDHE during the response and was responsible for managing the environmental impacts both during the fire and impacts on nearby public water supplies. Gary gave insights the into response needs both during and after the fire, the planning and coordination involved, how state and federal governments work together during times of emergency response, and lessons learned from this event which attendees could take back to your own facilities. The Wichita ASSE meets at iSi Environmental’s offices the first Monday of each month. The cost to attend is $10 and is open to all safety and environmental professionals. Register online at http://wichita.asse.org. If you’re interested in having Gary present this program at your conference or seminar, contact us here. Do you have emergency plans in place? Could they use an update? Give us a call!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an emergency response plan and why does every facility need one?
An emergency response plan is a documented set of procedures for responding to chemical spills, fires, explosions, or other hazardous incidents at your facility. OSHA and EPA require facilities handling hazardous chemicals to have written emergency response plans that coordinate with local emergency responders and address environmental impacts to public water supplies and surrounding communities.
Q: What lessons did the Neodesha, Kansas chemical fire teach about emergency preparedness?
The 2016 Neodesha chemical fire demonstrated the importance of coordinating emergency response between state environmental agencies (KDHE), federal responders, and local emergency services; protecting public water supplies during industrial disasters; and planning for both immediate fire suppression needs and long-term environmental remediation. Facilities should incorporate these lessons into their emergency response procedures.
Q: How do state and federal agencies coordinate during emergency response to chemical incidents?
During chemical emergencies, state environmental agencies like KDHE work with EPA and OSHA to manage environmental impacts, protect water supplies, and ensure worker safety. This coordination requires pre-planning, inter-agency communication protocols, and facility cooperation with emergency responders to minimize public health and environmental damage.
Q: What should be included in a comprehensive emergency response plan for a chemical facility?
An emergency response plan should include hazard assessment, notification procedures for emergency responders, evacuation plans, chemical containment procedures, coordination with local responders, protection of public water supplies, medical response protocols, and post-incident cleanup and remediation procedures. Facilities in Kansas and other states should regularly update and test these plans.
Need help with osha compliance? Contact iSi Environmental for a same-day quote, or explore our osha services to see how we can help your facility.