addressed in detail in Chapter 8 of this publication. It is, therefore, equally essential that
employees be aware of the actions to be taken in the event of an accidental spill or release of a
hazardous material.
2. To instill and sustain employee awareness of emergency response requirements,
commanders should, as a minimum, take the following actions:
a. Ensure that employees, upon being assigned to duties involving hazardous materials, are
formally briefed regarding purpose of the ISCP, response requirements, and individual
responsibilities under the plan.
b. Ensure that signs are prominently displayed at strategic locations throughout the
workplace, clearly indicating the individual and telephone number to be notified in the event of a
spill or release of a hazardous material.
c. Display appropriate posters in the workplace, rest and dining facilities, and locker rooms,
emphasizing safety in the hazardous materials work environment.
d. Ensure that refresher training is periodically provided to all employees assigned to
hazardous materials storage and handling areas.
e. Ensure that facility newspapers or periodicals regularly include articles designed to
stimulate employee awareness of hazards and emergency response actions.
D. Deployment of the HAZMAT Team. A critical but often difficult consideration in ISCP
development and execution is determining, in advance, the circumstances under which the
HAZMAT team will be deployed. In the case of a stack of acid carboys being toppled by a
forklift operator cutting a corner too closely, or the ignition of vapors near cans of degreasers
caused by a carelessly tossed lit cigarette, the "trigger" event is clear. In numerous other
instances, the requirement for a response by the HAZMAT team will be less clear and on-scene
judgments will have to be made. Since there are no definitive rules for determining the "trigger"
event in advance, it becomes the responsibility of each facility to determine and publish criteria
for HAZMAT team deployment based on a thorough evaluation of the type of hazardous
materials, prevailing risk factors, and resource availability. Circumstances at some facilities may
favor deployment of the HAZMAT team for all spills and releases regardless of the degree of
hazard involved. In other cases, ISCPs will necessarily have to be developed around flexible
criteria for deployment. The objective should be to achieve a balance between achieving
production goals and simultaneously ensuring that the response to any given emergency is the
most appropriate one. Protection of personnel, facilities, and the environment will, in all cases,
be the overriding consideration.
E. Emergency Response Operations.
1. The number of discernible emergency response operations will vary according to the format
and type of ISCP developed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for
7-9
