Why do we need a Business Emergency Contingency Plan?
Any business that uses, generates or stores hazardous materials is required to comply with State and Federal community right to know laws. The primary purpose of these laws is to provide readily available information regarding the location, type, and health risks of hazardous materials to emergency response personnel, authorized government officials, and the public. These requirements are found in the:
- California Health & Safety Code (CHSC), Division 20, Chapter 6.95, Sections 25500 – 25520
- California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, Sections 2729 – 2732
- Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and EPA (SARA, Title III)
Why are we required to submit the Business Emergency Contingency Plans?
- Any business that uses, generates, processes, produces, treats, stores, emits, or discharges a hazardous material in quantities at or exceeding 55 gallons, 500 pounds, or 200 cubic feet (compressed gas) at any one time in the course of a year. Thresholds are increased to 1,000 cubic feet for compressed gases that exhibit only the hazard of simple asphyxiation & release of pressure. Thresholds for hazardous substances, solid or liquid, that are defined as hazardous solely as an irritant or sensitizer are increased to 5,000 pounds.
- All hazardous waste generators, regardless of quantity generated or size of container.
- Any business that handles radioactive materials for which an emergency plan is required.
- Any business subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.
What should be included in the Business Emergency Contingency Plans?
- Business Activities
- Business Owner/Operator Identification
- Emergency Contacts
- Agency Notification
- Emergency Response Plans & Procedures
- Chemical Inventory
- Inventory Summary Form
- Hazardous Material Inventory Chemical Description Form
- Maps: Area Map, Site Map, Facility Map
- Map Grid Form – Site Map
- Map Grid Form – Facility Map
Who prepares the Business Emergency Contingency Plans for Loma Linda University Health?
In order to comply with these regulations, Environmental Health and Safety prepares 13 different Business Emergency Contingency Plans for the Loma Linda University Health each year. There are 11 located in the San Bernardino County and 2 in Riverside County.
Beginning in 2013, the new California Health & Safety Code requires all regulated businesses and all regulated local government agencies, which are called “Unified Program Agencies” (UPA), to file required unified program information online. This includes facility data regarding hazardous material, regulatory activities, chemical inventories, underground and aboveground storage tanks, and hazardous waste generation. All required information relating to the Loma Linda University Health has been submitted electronically by using the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), a statewide, web-based system to the Local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) on time to reflect the compliance.
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This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.