Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:E:Environmental Management and Health:Vol09.Issue3.1998:

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Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt and He alth

9 / 3 [1998] 1 2 4 –1 2 9

Awareness and preparedness for emergencies at

local level – UNEP’s APELL programme

Janet B. Stevens

UNEP Industry and Enviro nme nt, Paris, Franc e

The ten-step APELL process, as set out in the APELL Hand-book, is described, together with the roles of the APELL partners and ways of starting APELL. An account of UNEP’s APELL programme is given. The progress of APELL throughout the world is dis-cussed and a view is offered about how the programme can be further implemented and made more effective.

Introduction

Aw a r en es s a n d p r e p a r ed n ess for em er gen cies a t loca l level (AP E LL) is a t ool d evelop ed by t h e Un it ed N a t ion s E n v ir on m en t

P r ogr a m m e’s In d u st r y a n d E n v ir on m en t office (UN E P IE ), in con ju n ct ion w it h gover n -m en t s a n d in d u st r y. It s p u r p ose is t o -m in i-m ize t h e occu r r en ce a n d h a r i-m fu l effect s of t ech n ologica l a ccid en t s a n d em er gen cies, p a r t icu la r ly, t h ou gh n ot exclu sively, in d evel-op in g cou n t r ies. AP E LL w a s la u n ch ed in 1988, follow in g va r iou s in d u st r ia l a ccid en t s w h ich h a d a dver s e im p a ct s on h ea lt h a n d t h e en v ir on m en t – Bh op a l in 1984 a n d t h e Sa n d oz w a r eh ou s e fi r e n ea r Ba sel in 1986, w h ich r es u lt ed in ext en s ive con t a m in a t ion of t h e Rh in e, a r e obv iou s exa m p les.

T h is p a p er d escr ib es t h e AP E LL p r ocess a n d s om e of t h e t ools w h ich h ave b een d evel-op ed t o im p lem en t it , es p ecia lly t h e A PE L L H a n d b ook . Som e of t h e a ct iv it ies of UN E P ’s AP E LL p r ogr a m m e a r e a lso d es cr ib ed a n d exa m p les of AP E LL im p lem en t a t ion a r e given . F in a lly t h e fu t u r e of AP E LL is con s id -er ed .

It is s u ggest ed t h a t AP E LL is u s efu l in a n y sit u a t ion w h ich r eq u ir es join t p la n n in g for d isa s t er s by sever a l p a r t ies, e.g. gover n m en t , in d u s t r y a n d loca l com m u n it ies. Bein g aw a r e a n d p r e p a r ed m ea n s h av in g wor k a ble, r ea lis-t ic p la n s in lis-t h e even lis-t lis-t h a lis-t a n a ccid en lis-t d oes occu r. It a ls o m ea n s cr ea t in g a b et t er u n d er -st a n d in g of loca l h a za r d s, w h ich in t u r n sh ou ld lea d t o a ct ion s d esign ed t o p r even t a ccid en t s fr om h a p p en in g a t a ll.

The APELL process

Why APELL?

It is n ow u n iver s a lly a ck n ow led ged t h a t ever y d isa s t er, w h a t ever t h e ca u s e, m ay h ave a n en v ir on m en t a l im p a ct . Wh ile som e m a jor in d u s t r ia l a ccid en t s ca n b e con t a in ed w it h in t h e b ou n d a r ies of t h e p la n t , in ot h er ca ses t h er e a r e im p a ct s on t h e su r r ou n d in g n eigh -b or h ood , w it h a dver s e s h or t - or lon g-t er m con s eq u en ces a ffect in g life, lifes u p p or t sy s -t em s, -t h e s ocia l fa b r ic or p r op er -t y. T h is is even m or e t r u e of a ccid en t s a r is in g fr om t r a n s p or t of d a n ger ou s good s, e.g. by r oa d ,

r a il or p ip elin e, t h r ou gh or close t o p op u la t ed a r ea s, sin ce by d efi n it ion t h er e is n o b ou n d -a r y fen ce in t h ese c-a ses. T h e ext en t of t h e losses so ca u sed d e p en d s t o a la r ge ext en t on t h e a ct ion s of t h e fi r st r esp on d er s t o a n em er -gen cy, a t t h e s cen e of t h e a ccid en t a n d w it h in t h e com m u n it y a r ou n d it .

Clea r ly, a d eq u a t e r esp on se t o s u ch sit u a -t ion s ca lls for co-op er a -t ion b e-t w een va r iou s in st it u t ion s a n d in d iv id u a ls. T h is ca n b e a ch ieved on ly if t h er e is aw a r en ess w it h in t h e com m u n it y of p ossible r isk s a n d of t h e n eed for join t p r e p a r ed n ess t o cop e w it h t h eir con seq u en ces. T h e A PE L L H a n d b ook

d es cr ib es a p r ocess for im p r ov in g com m u n it y aw a r en ess a n d em er gen cy p r e p a r ed n ess a n d a ch iev in g co-op er a t ion b et w een t h e va r iou s p a r t ies in volved .

What is APELL?

AP E LL con sist s of t wo p a r t s:

1 p r ov ision of in for m a t ion t o t h e com m u -n it y, r efer r ed t o a s “com m u -n it y aw a r e-n ess”;

2 for m u la t ion of a p la n t o p r ot ect p eop le, p r op er t y a n d t h e en v ir on m en t , r efer r ed t o a s “em er gen cy r esp on se”.

AP E LL a d d r es ses a ll em er gen cies w it h p ot en -t ia l for fi r e, exp los ion , sp ills or r elea ses of h a za r d ou s m a t er ia ls. T h e p oss ib ilit y of “com -b in a t ion a ccid en t s” sh ou ld -b e n ot ed a t t h is p oin t ; for exa m p le, a n ea r t h q u a k e w h ich t r igger s a n em er gen cy in a ch em ica l fa ct or y. T h e d et er m in a t ion of w h ich p ot en t ia l h a z-a r d s s h ou ld b e cover ed by t h e AP E LL p r ocess is in p r in cip le t h e r esu lt of a r is k a s sessm en t . In m ost ca ses, h ow ever, com m on sen se w ill b e su fficien t t o id en t ify t h e fa cilit ies or a r ea s w h ich p r es en t a r isk of a m a jor a ccid en t . T h e cr it er ia (list s of s u b s t a n ces a n d t h r esh old levels) given in in t er n a t ion a l or n a t ion a l r e gu la t ion s or r ecom m en d a t ion s m ay a lso p r ov id e gu id a n ce.

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Jane t B. Ste ve ns

Aware ne ss and pre pare dne ss fo r e me rge nc ie s at lo c al le ve l – UNEP’ s APELL pro gramme

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A PE L L H a n d b ook p r ov id es t h e b a s ic con -ce p t s for t h e d evelop m en t of a ct ion p la n s w h ich ca n b e a d a p t ed t o loca l con d it ion s. N o le gis la t ion or r e gu la t ion is n eed ed . Sin ce t h e con t a in m en t of h ea lt h a n d en v ir on m en t a l im p a ct s d e p en d s on t h e s p eed a n d scop e of t h e in it ia l loca l r es p on s e, em p h a s is is p la ced on loca l p a r t icip a t ion . H ow ever, it is r ecog-n ized t h a t ecog-n a t ioecog-n a l gover ecog-n m eecog-n t s a ecog-n d t h e ch ief execu t ive officer s of in d u s t r ies h ave a fu n d a m en t a l r ole in p r om ot in g a n d su p p or t -in g t h es e loca l effor t s. In d u s t r y a s s ocia t ion s a lso h ave a n im p or t a n t p a r t t o p lay in en cou r -a gin g in d u st r y p -a r t icip -a t ion .

T h e AP E LL p r ocess con s ist s of t en s t e p s, a s follow s :

1 id en t ify t h e em er gen cy r es p on s e p a r t ici-p a n t s a n d es t a blis h t h eir r oles, r es ou r ces a n d con cer n s ;

2 eva lu a t e t h e h a za r d s a n d r is k s t h a t m ay r es u lt in em er gen cy s it u a t ion s in t h e com -m u n it y ;

3 h ave p a r t icip a n t s r ev iew t h eir ow n em er -gen cy r esp on s e p la n s for a d eq u a cy r ela t ive t o a co-or d in a t ed r esp on s e;

4 id en t ify t h e r eq u ir ed r es p on s e t a s k s n ot cover ed by exis t in g p la n s ;

5 m a t ch t h ese t a sk s t o t h e r es ou r ces ava il-a ble fr om t h e id en t ifi ed p il-a r t icip il-a n t s ; 6 m a k e t h e ch a n ges n eces sa r y t o im p r ove

exis t in g p la n s, in t e gr a t e t h em in t o a n over a ll com m u n it y p la n a n d ga in a gr ee-m en t ;

7 com m it t h e in t e gr a t ed com m u n it y p la n t o w r it in g a n d ob t a in a p p r ova l fr om loca l gover n m en t s ;

8 ed u ca t e p a r t icip a t in g gr ou p s a b ou t t h e in t e gr a t ed p la n a n d en su r e t h a t a ll em er -gen cy r esp on d er s a r e t r a in ed ;

9 es t a blis h p r oced u r es for p er iod ic t es t in g, r ev iew a n d u p d a t in g of t h e p la n ;

10 ed u ca t e t h e gen er a l com m u n it y a b ou t t h e in t e gr a t ed p la n .

T h e A PE L L H a n d b ook d es cr ib es t h e con t en t of ea ch s t e p a n d p r ov id es a ch eck lis t for com -p let in g it .

Who are the APELL partners? What are their responsibilities?

At t h e loca l level t h er e a r e t h r ee ver y im p or -t a n -t p a r -t n er s w h o m u s -t b e in volved if AP E LL is t o s u cceed :

1 L oca l a u th or ities. T h ese m ay in clu d e p r ov in cia l, d ist r ict , cit y or t ow n officia ls, eit h er elect ed or a p p oin t ed , w h o a r e r es p on s ible for s a fet y, p u blic h ea lt h a n d en v ir on m en t a l p r ot ect ion in t h eir a r ea . 2 In d u str y. In d u st r ia l p la n t m a n a ger s fr om

eit h er s t a t e-ow n ed or p r iva t e com p a n ies a r e r es p on s ible for s a fet y a n d a ccid en t p r even t ion in t h eir op er a t ion s. T h ey

p r e p a r e sp ecifi c em er gen cy m ea su r es w it h in t h e p la n t a n d r ev iew t h eir a p p lica -t ion . Bu -t -t h eir r es p on sib ili-t ies d o n o-t s-t op a t t h e b ou n d a r y fen ce. As lea d er s of in d u s-t r ia l gr ow s-t h a n d d evelop m en s-t , s-t h ey a r e in t h e b est p osit ion t o in t er a ct w it h lea d er s of loca l a u t h or it ies a n d com m u n it y gr ou p s, in or d er t o cr ea t e aw a r en ess of h ow t h e in d u st r ia l fa cilit y op er a t es a n d h ow it cou ld a ffect it s en v ir on m en t a n d t o h elp p r e p a r e a p p r op r ia t e com m u n it y r esp on se p la n s in t h e even t of a n em er gen cy. T h e in volvem en t a n d a ct ive p a r t icip a t ion of t h e wor k for ce is a lso ver y im p or t a n t . 3 L oca l com m u n ity a n d in terest g r ou p s. Su ch

a s en v ir on m en t a l, h ea lt h , socia l ca r e, m ed ia a n d r eligiou s or ga n iza t ion s a n d lea d er s in t h e ed u ca t ion a l a n d bu sin ess sect or s, w h o r e p r es en t t h e con cer n s a n d v iew s of t h eir m em b er s or con st it u en t s in t h e com m u n it y.

T h er e a r e ot h er p a r t n er s, e.g. n on gover n -m en t a l or ga n iza t ion s (N GOs). T h e AP E LL p r ocess is d esign ed t o h a r m on ize w it h ot h er in it ia t ives t o r ed u ce r is k s a n d t h eir con se-q u en ces, n ot t o r e p la ce t h em .

How can an APELL project be started?

T h e AP E LL p r ocess m ay b e in it ia t ed by a n y m em b er of t h e t h r ee in volved gr ou p s: in d u s-t r y m a n a ger s, loca l a u s-t h or is-t ies or com m u n is-t y lea d er s. H ow ever, t h er e m u st t h en b e d ir ect a n d close in t er a ct ion b et w een t h e r e p r esen t a -t ives of -t h e -t h r ee p a r -t n er s. A “b r id ge” is cr e-a t ed by m ee-a n s of t h e “AP E LL Co-or d in e-a t in g Gr ou p ”. T h is is t h e m a in sp r in g of t h e p r ocess. T h e gr ou p d oes n ot it self h ave a n y op er a t ion a l r ole d u r in g a n em er gen cy bu t exist s t o p r e p a r e t h e va r iou s p a r t n er s t o b e r ea dy a n d t o k n ow t h eir t a sk s if a n a ccid en t d oes occu r. Mem b er s m u st b e a ble t o com m a n d t h e r esp ect of t h eir va r iou s con st it u en -cies a n d b e w illin g t o wor k t oget h er in t h e in t er est s of loca l sa fet y, w ellb ein g a n d p r op er t y secu r it y. In p a r t icu la r loca l p la n t m a n -a ger s n eed t o b e -a ct ive p -a r t icip -a n t s -a n d loc-a l a u t h or it y a n d com m u n it y lea d er s n eed t o k n ow t h a t t h ey a r e a ct in g w it h t h e blessin g a n d fu ll a u t h or it y of t h e m ost sen ior m a n -a ger s in t h eir com p -a n ies. T h e le-a d er of t h e co-or d in a t in g gr ou p sh ou ld id ea lly b e a ble t o en su r e t h e m ot iva t ion a n d co-op er a t ion of a ll se gm en t s of loca l societ y, r e ga r d less of cu l-t u r a l, econ om ic, ed u ca l-t ion a l a n d ol-t h er d is-sim ila r it ies, a n d t h is n eed s t o b e b or n e in m in d w h en ch oosin g t h e lea d er.

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a n effect ive st r u ct u r e a t loca l level. In d u s t r ia l fa cilit ies s h ou ld a lr ea dy h ave on sit e em er -gen cy p la n s. Loca l a u t h or it ies a n d r es cu e ser v ices s h ou ld h ave p la n s t o d ea l w it h t h e con s eq u en ces of m a jor em er gen cies. Loca l h os p it a ls sh ou ld cer t a in ly h ave t h eir ow n “m a jor a ccid en t p la n s” for d ea lin g w it h la r ge n u m b er s of ser iou sly in ju r ed p eop le. T h e AP E LL p r ocess en s u r es t h a t a ll exist in g p la n s con t r ibu t e t o t h e over a ll in t e gr a t ed , co-op er a t ive p la n .

How can community awareness be created?

Cit izen s w a n t t o k n ow if p ot en t ia lly h a za r d ou s m a t er ia ls a r e b ein g p r od u ced , st or ed , u s ed or t r a n sp or t ed in t h eir com m u n i-t ies. In a d d ii-t ion i-t h ey n eed i-t o b e in for m ed a b ou t p ot en t ia l r isk s in or d er t o u n d er st a n d w h y a n em er gen cy p la n h a s b een est a blis h ed , h ow it wor k s a n d w h a t a ct ion t h ey a r e exp ect ed t o t a k e in a n em er gen cy.

T h er e is r ea lly n ot h in g m y st er iou s a b ou t a com m u n it y aw a r en es s p r ogr a m m e. A fen ced -in -in d u s t r ia l p la n t ca n look t h r ea t en -in g t o t h e p u blic, bu t m u ch of t h e m y st er y d isa p p ea r s w h en p eop le k n ow w h a t t h e p la n t u s es a n d m a n u fa ct u r es a n d k n ow t h a t it h a s a good sa fet y r ecor d a n d t h a t a n effect ive em er gen cy p la n exis t s.

N o on e ca n p r es cr ib e t h e a ct iv it ies n eces-sa r y for a loca l aw a r en es s p r ogr a m m e t h a t w ill fi t ever y com m u n it y. H ow ever, t h e follow -in g p o-in t s s h ou ld b e con s id er ed :

• d efi n e t h e loca l com m u n it y con cer n ed ; • lis t exis t in g loca l com m u n it y con t a ct s ; • con t a ct ot h er in d u st r ia l fa cilit ies t o

co-or d in a t e com m u n it y a ct iv it ies ;

• p la n a n in it ia l m eet in g of t h e AP E LL Co-or d in a t in g Gr ou p ;

• d evelop fa ct sh eet s or k it s on ea ch in d u s-t r ia l op er a s-t ion ;

• d evelop fa ct sh eet s on com m u n it y p r e p a r ed n ess ;

• a s sign r es p on s ib ilit y for com m u n ica t ion s t a s k s ;

• look for com m u n ica t ion op p or t u n it ies ; • select m et h od s of com m u n ica t ion s u it a ble

for loca l cir cu m st a n ces ; • get ou t s id e h elp ; • in for m em p loyees.

In p r e p a r in g a n d bu ild in g com m u n it y aw a r e-n ess t h e follow ie-n g s h ou ld b e b or e-n e ie-n m ie-n d : • a ll p a r t ies a ct ive in t h e AP E LL p r ocess

h ave a d u t y t o k ee p t h e p u blic in for m ed a b ou t p r ogr es s a n d t o en s u r e t h a t t h e p u blic d oes n ot r eceive con fl ict in g m es -s a ge-s ;

• d evelop in g r ela t ion sh ip s w it h t h e m ed ia r eq u ir es t im e a n d effor t fr om ever y b ody con cer n ed ;

• m ed ia r ela t ion s effor t s, lik e loca l coop er a -t ion p r ogr a m m es, ca n n o-t b e s -t a r -t ed a f-ter t r ou ble h a s a lr ea dy a r isen .

How can preparedness for emergencies be achieved?

Am on g t h e fi r st st e p s in t h e p la n n in g p r ocess a r e t h e ga t h er in g of in for m a t ion a n d t h e a ssess m en t of t h e cu r r en t s it u a t ion . T h er e-for e on e of t h e fi r st t a s k s fa ced by t h e AP E LL Co-or d in a t in g Gr ou p is t h e collect ion of b a sic d a t a . T h is ca n b e d on e by p er son a l con t a ct s or by m or e for m a l su r vey s, in or d er t o: • id en t ify loca l a gen cies m a k in g u p t h e com

m u n it y ’s p ot en t ia l aw a r en ess a n d p r e p a r ed -n ess -n et wor k ;

• id en t ify t h e r isk s w h ich m ay lea d t o a n em er gen cy ;

• est a blish t h e cu r r en t st a t u s of com m u n it y p la n n in g a n d co-or d in a t ion a n d en su r e t h a t p ot en t ia l over la p s a r e avoid ed ;

• id en t ify t h e sp ecifi c com m u n it y p oin t s of con t a ct a n d t h eir r es p on sib ilit ies in a n em er gen cy ;

• list t h e k in d of eq u ip m en t a n d m a t er ia ls for em er gen cy r esp on se w h ich a r e ava ila ble loca lly ;

• id en t ify t h e or ga n iza t ion a l st r u ct u r e for h a n d lin g em er gen cies;

• ch eck if t h e com m u n it y h a s sp ecia lized em er gen cy t ea m s t o r es p on d t o r elea ses of h a za r d ou s m a t er ia ls;

• d efi n e t h e com m u n it y em er gen cy t r a n sp or t n et wor k ;

• est a blish t h e com m u n it y p r oced u r es for p r ot ect in g cit izen s d u r in g em er gen cies; • set u p a m ech a n ism w h ich en a bles r esp on

-d er s t o exch a n ge in for m a t ion or i-d ea s w it h ot h er p a r t ies d u r in g a n em er gen cy. T h ese a r e on ly som e of t h e m a jor iss u es w h ich w ill h ave t o b e r esolved w it h in or by t h e co-or d in a t in g gr ou p. Mor e d et a ils ca n b e fou n d in t h e A PE L L H a n d b ook .

UNEP IE’s APELL programme

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E n v ir on m en t Cen t r e (WE C), a US-b a s ed N GO. Som e exa m p les of con cr et e AP E LL p r oject s a r e d es cr ib ed in t h e follow in g s ect ion (“AP E LL wor ldw id e”).

T h e m a in AP E LL t ools a n d p u blica t ion s d evelop ed by UN E P IE a r e:

The APELL Handbook

Sin ce it s la u n ch in 1988, m or e t h a n 10,000 cop ies h ave b een d ist r ibu t ed wor ldw id e in E n glish , F r en ch a n d Sp a n is h . T h e h a n d b ook h a s a lso b een t r a n s la t ed in t o 17 ot h er la n -gu a ges : Ar a b ic, Ch in ese, Cr oa t ia n , Czech , E st on ia n , H in d i, H u n ga r ia n , In d on es ia n , It a lia n , Kor ea n , La t v ia n , Lit h u a n ia n , P olis h , P or t u gu es e, Ru ss ia n , T h a i a n d Tu r k is h . T h e h a n d b ook is d esign ed t o h elp p eop le s t a r t p u t t in g AP E LL in t o p r a ct ice t h em s elves.

The APELL Newsletter

T h e N ew sletter a p p ea r s t w ice a yea r in E n g-lis h , F r en ch , Sp a n ish a n d Ch in es e. F r om Is su e N o. 15, t h e fi r st of 1997, it is b ein g p u b -lis h ed in E n g-lis h a s a n in t e gr a t ed p a r t of UN E P IE ’s m a in p er iod ica l p u blica t ion , In d u str y a n d E n v ir on m en t R ev iew . UN E P IE w ill con t in u e t o d ist r ibu t e it , in E n glis h , F r en ch or Sp a n is h a s a p p r op r ia t e, t o AP E LL u s er s w h o a r e n ot su b s cr ib er s t o t h e R ev iew. T h e N ew sletter k ee p s r ea d er s in for m ed of cu r r en t AP E LL or AP E LL-r ela t ed a ct iv it ies, a s w ell a s n a t ion a l a n d r e gion a l p r ogr a m m es a n d AP E LL-r ela t ed even t s.

Computer assisted management of emergency operations (CAM EO)

T h e Un it ed St a t es E n v ir on m en t a l P r ot ect ion Agen cy (US E PA) h a s a d a p t ed it s CAM E O s oft w a r e for in t er n a t ion a l a p p lica t ion s by AP E LL u s er s wor ldw id e. (N B t h is soft w a r e is n ot ava ila ble d ir ect ly fr om UN E P IE .) A Win -d ow s -b a s e-d ver s ion is ju s t n ow b ecom in g ava ila ble. E ffor t s a r e a lso b ein g m a d e t o m a k e CAM E O ava ila ble in Sp a n ish .

APELL-related publications

1 UN E P IE Tech n ica l Re p or t Ser ies: • 3, S tora ge of H a z a rd ou s M a ter ia ls; • 8, In ter n a tion a l Director y of E m ergen cy

R esp on se Cen tres (join t p u blica t ion w it h OE CD, cu r r en t ly u n d er r ev ision ); • 12, H a z a rd Id en tifi ca tion a n d E v a lu a tion

in a L oca l Com m u n ity (w it h t h e su p p or t of t h e Sw ed is h gover n m en t );

• 19, H ea lth A sp ects of Ch em ica l A ccid en ts (join t p u blica t ion w it h OE CD, WH O a n d IP CS);

• 21, A PE L L A n n ota ted B ibliog ra p h y (w it h t h e s u p p or t of t h e Ca n a d ia n

gover n m en t ); a n d in p r e p a r a t ion : • 28, S a fety, H ea lth a n d E n v ir on m en ta l

M a n a gem en t S ystem s;

• 35, “T ra n sA PE L L” (AP E LL for a ccid en t s a r is in g fr om t h e t r a n sp or t of d a n ger ou s good s).

2 A PE L L for Por t A rea s (join t p u blica t ion w it h IMO).

3 A PE L L W orld w id e – a s et of 12 n a t ion a l over v iew s of AP E LL im p lem en t a t ion , in : Br a zil, Ch in a , In d ia , Mexico, Colom b ia , t h e P h ilip p in es, T h a ila n d , Tu n isia , T h e Czech Re p u blic, H u n ga r y, La t v ia a n d t h e Ru ssia n Fed er a t ion .

In p r e p a r a t ion – a n ou t lin e First R esp on d ers’ H a n d b ook .

UN E P IE a ls o d ist r ibu t es t h e OE CD’s Gu id in g Pr in cip les for Ch em ica l A ccid en t Prev en -tion , Prep a red n ess a n d R esp on se a n d a ssoci-a t ed p u blicssoci-a t ion s.

APELL worldwide

Sin ce it s in ce p t ion in la t e 1988 AP E LL h a s b een in t r od u ced in a b ou t 30 cou n t r ies a r ou n d t h e wor ld . Re gion a l or s u b -r e gion a l AP E LL sem in a r / wor k sh op s h ave b een h eld for : • La t in Am er ica a n d t h e Ca r ibb ea n (Mexico

Cit y, 1990);

• For m er USSR (Moscow, 1991); • Cou n t r ies of West Asia (Ca ir o, 1993); • Asia a n d t h e P a cifi c (Sh a n gh a i, 1993); • Ba lt ic St a t es (La t v ia , 1994; E s t on ia , 1995); • Sou t h er n La t in Am er ica (Sa n t ia go, 1995). N a t ion a l a n d / or loca l even t s h ave b een h eld in :

• Ar gen t in a (1996); • Ba h r a in (1989);

• Br a zil (1990, 1992 a n d 1995); • Ch ile (1995);

• Colom b ia (1990, 1996); • Czech Re p u blic (1992); • E gy p t (1992);

• H u n ga r y (1992);

• In d ia (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996); • In d on esia (1994);

• Kor ea (1996); • M exico (1993, 1995); • T h e P h ilip p in es (1990); • Ru s sia n Fed er a t ion (1994); • Tu n isia (1990, 1991); • Tu r k ey (1991);

• Ven e zu ela (1995, 1996); • Yem en (1992).

Som e of t h ese even t s, p a r t icu la r ly in In d ia a n d M exico, h ave b een or ga n ized w it h a n d t h r ou gh t h e Wor ld E n v ir on m en t Cen t r e’s Loca l Aw a r en ess a n d Mit iga t ion P r ogr a m m e (LAMP ).

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Som e exa m p les follow of AP E LL-r ela t ed a ct iv it ies in d iffer en t cou n t r ies.

Bahrain

Recom m en d a t ion s fr om t h e AP E LL Wor k -s h op h eld in N ovem b er 1989 in clu d ed t h e cr ea t ion of a n AP E LL Co-or d in a t in g Gr ou p a n d p r ogr a m m e; com p let ion of r es p on s e m a n u a ls a n d of t h e N a t ion a l P la n for E m er -gen cy Resp on s e; a n d t h e or ga n iza t ion of d r ills a n d t r a in in g p r ogr a m m es. Law N o. 5 of 1990, is s u ed by t h e Am ir i Decr ee, a ccor d in gly d efi n ed goa ls, ob ject ives a n d m a n d a t e for civ il d efen ce t o r ev ise t h e N a t ion a l P la n for E m er -gen cy Resp on s e, a im ed a t p r op er ly st r u ct u r ed a n d effect ive r esp on s e m ech a n is m s for ea ch m a jor in d u s t r y a n d fi r m . T h e AP E LL n a t ion a l com m it t ee h a s en h a n ced t h e co-or d in a t ion b et w een a ll m a jco-or fi r m s a n d b et w een t h em a n d t h e gover n m en t d e p a r t -m en t s con cer n ed . Ma jor in d u s t r ia l fi r -m s h ave t h eir ow n fi r e a n d s a fet y s t a ff bu t civ il d efen ce a n d t h e fi r e s er v ice a r e a lso s u m m on ed t o in cid en t s a n d coop er a t e in con -ju n ct ion w it h p la n t m a n a gem en t a n d t ech n i-ca l s t a ff. Du r in g t h e la st fou r yea r s m a jor join t exer cis es h ave b een h eld a t Ba h r a in In t er n a t ion a l Air p or t , t h e BAP CO r efi n er y a n d a t a n LP G s t or e in a m a r in e t er m in a l. E n v ir on m en t a l im p a ct a ss es s m en t , in clu d in g r is k a s s es s m en t , is ca r r ied ou t for a ll p r oject s, w it h sp ecia l r efer en ce t o s t or a ge, h a n -d lin g, a n -d -d isp os a l of ch em ica ls a n -d h a za r d ou s m a t er ia ls.

Chile

T h r ee AP E LL even t s w er e h eld in Ch ile d u r -in g 1995 t o -in t r od u ce AP E LL a n d ca t a ly se it s im p lem en t a t ion ; a n a t ion a l even t in Sa n t ia go a n d t wo loca l even t s in Va lp a r a is o a n d Con -ce p cion .

T h e loca l even t in Con ce p cion , a r r a n ged u n d er t h e a u sp ices of t h e UN E P / H a b it a t Su s t a in a ble Cit ies P r ogr a m m e (SCP ), t ook p la ce a ga in st t h e b a ck gr ou n d of a fi r e in Sa n Vin cen t e Bay, w h ich a lm os t d es t r oyed a r efi n -er y. Good loca l in d u st r y su p p or t w a s r eceived fr om Dow a n d Oxych em . La n d u s e p la n n in g, h a za r d id en t ifi ca t ion , t r a n s p or t of h a za r d ou s m a t er ia ls a n d com m u n it y p a r t icip a t ion w er e a ll im p or t a n t is su es. T h e wor k s h op h a s led t o t h e est a blis h m en t of a n a ct ive AP E LL Coor d in a t in g Gr ou p. T h e Un iver s it y of Con ce p cion is in t h e p r ocess of est a blis h in g a com -p u t er lin k w it h t h e fi r e d e -p a r t m en t a n d w ill b e cr ea t in g it s ow n em er gen cy p r e p a r ed n ess cen t r e, u s in g CAM E O. Ad d it ion a lly, t h e co-or d in a t in g gr ou p is con t in u in g t o a ss em ble a n in ven t or y of d a n ger ou s m a t er ia ls in t h e com m u n it y. F in a lly, a loca l gr ou p w en t t o In d ia , w it h su p p or t fr om SCP, t o ob s er ve a

loca l em er gen cy p la n n in g com m ission a n d lea r n fr om it s op er a t ion a l exp er ien ces.

In Se p t em b er 1996 a wor k sh op on “AP E LL for P or t Ar ea s ” w a s h eld in Va lp a r a iso. On 27-29 N ovem b er 1996 a wor k s h op w a s h eld in Iq u iq u e t o in t r od u ce AP E LL t o Ch ile’s n or t h -er n m ost r e gion . An in t -er n a t ion a l con gr ess on “Sa fet y on Sea a n d in P or t s” w a s h eld in Va lp a r a is o in May 1997.

India

T h e ga s lea k a t t h e Un ion Ca r b id e p est icid es p la n t in Bh op a l in Decem b er 1984 k illed m or e t h a n 1,750 p eop le ou t r igh t . In Ap r il 1993 it w a s r e p or t ed t h a t t h e t ot a l d ea t h t oll u n t il t h a t d a t e h a d b een officia lly es t im a t ed a t 3,828. E igh t Un ion Ca r b id e officia ls w er e a t t h a t t im e u n d er in d ict m en t for cu lp a ble h om icid e in con n ect ion w it h t h e a ccid en t .

In d ia h a s a n ext en sive le gisla t ive a n d r e gu -la t or y fr a m ewor k for m a jor h a za r d con t r ol a n d en v ir on m en t a l p r ot ect ion . At t h e Decem -b er 1994 m eet in g of t h e AP E LL Sen ior Level E xp er t Adv isor y Gr ou p, t h e r e p r esen t a t ive of t h e Min ist r y of E n v ir on m en t a n d For est s r e p or t ed t h a t fu r t h er m ea s u r es w er e b ein g u n d er t a k en t o st r en gt h en off-sit e em er gen cy m a n a gem en t :

• h a za r d a n a ly sis in 15 in d u st r ia l p ock et s; • p r e p a r a t ion of m od el off-sit e em er gen cy

p la n s ;

• cr ea t ion of t h r ee ch em ica l em er gen cy r esp on s e cen t r es;

• fu n d in g of t h r ee levels of a ccid en t p r even -t ion a n d p r e p a r ed n es s -t r a in in g in seven in st it u t es.

At loca l level t h e N a t ion a l Sa fet y Cou n cil (N SC), a n a u t on om ou s b ody of t h e Min ist r y of La b ou r, is im p lem en t in g a n a t ion a l level a ct ion p r ogr a m m e (AP ) on ch em ica l em er -gen cy p r even t ion , p r e p a r ed n es s a n d r esp on se, focu sin g on a n u m b er of h igh -r isk in d u st r ia l a r ea s in d iffer en t p a r t s of t h e cou n -t r y p lu s n a -t ion a l level a c-t iv i-t ies. Su p p or -t h a s b een given t h r ou gh WE C’s LAMP

p r ogr a m m e.

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exer cis e a s it w a s fou n d t o n eed a n u m b er of im p r ovem en t s.

AP E LL h a s sin ce b een in t r od u ced in T h a n e-Bela p u r (n ea r Bom b ay ), Ka n p u r (Ut t a r P r a d es h ), Coch in (Ker a la ), H a ld ia (Wes t Ben ga l) a n d Ba r od a (Gu ja r a t ). In -d e p t h fol-low -u p h a s in clu d ed t r a in in g cou r s es on “Ch em ica l em er gen cy p r e p a r ed n ess ”, b a s ed on t h e cou r s e d evelop ed by US E PA; a s em i-n a r oi-n “E m er gei-n cy m ed ica l r es p oi-n s e t o ch em ica l d isa st er s” a n d a u d it s of p u blic h os-p it a ls ;h a n d s-on t r a in in g cou r s es on “CAME O for fi r st r es p on d er s ” a n d d ist r ibu t ion of CAME O s oft w a r e; t a ble-t op exer cis es ; a n d m ock em er gen cy d r ills.

In 1995 a t h r eed ay wor k s h op on “Com m u -n it y Aw a r e-n es s” w a s d evelop ed . T h is h a s sin ce b een con d u ct ed in a n u m b er of loca l a r ea s. Du r in g 1996 a m od u le on t r a n sp or t a -t ion of h a za r d ou s m a -t er ia ls w a s d evelop ed a n d p ilot ed in M u m b a i a n d Ma d r a s.

The future of APELL

At t h e Oct ob er 1996 m eet in g of t h e AP E LL Sen ior Level Adv isor y Gr ou p, r ecom m en d a -t ion s in clu d ed :

• a 1997-99 AP E LL t h r ee-yea r wor k p r o-gr a m m e w h ich r efl ect s t h e con t r ibu t ion s b ein g m a d e w it h in p a r t n er cou n t r ies a n d by p a r t n er or ga n iza t ion s a n d w h ich con -cen t r a t es on h elp in g t h os e w h o a r e w illin g t o h elp t h em selves a n d ot h er s;

• en h a n cem en t of t h e exist in g AP E LL t ools a n d d evelop m en t of n ew on es, p a r t icu la r ly a n “AP E LL St a r t er Kit ” t o su p p or t t h e im p lem en t a t ion of AP E LL a ft er a n in it ia l n a t ion a l in t r od u ct ion ;

• fu r t h er com m u n ica t ion of AP E LL’s “u n iq u e sellin g p oin t s ”, e.g. it s con t r ibu -t ion -t o a ccid en -t p r even -t ion a n d m i-t iga -t ion

a n d t h er eby t o in d u s t r y cost con t r ol a n d it s con t r ibu t ion t o com m u n it y em p ow er -m en t ;

• r e gion a l in for m a t ion exch a n ge a n d m u t u a l su p p or t t o b e d evelop ed t h r ou gh UN E P r e gion a l offices;

• in volvem en t of ot h er in d u st r y p a r t n er s, e.g. t h e p ossible r ole of t h e in su r a n ce in d u s-t r y.

It is cer t a in ly t h e ca se t h a t fu r t h er p r ogr ess w ill d e p en d cr u cia lly on com m it m en t by p a r t n er s a t n a t ion a l a n d loca l level t o m a k e AP E LL “st ick ”. UN E P IE in t u r n is com m it t ed t o su p p or t in g t h os e p a r t n er s w it h in for -m a t ion a n d exp er t ise.

Conclusion

T h er e is a w id esp r ea d a n d gr ow in g d em a n d for AP E LL fr om gover n m en t s, in d u st r ies a n d com m u n it ies a ll r ou n d t h e wor ld . AP E LL h a s est a blish ed it s elf a s a t ool for self-h elp in t h e p r ocess of cr ea t in g co-or d in a t ed em er gen cy p la n s a n d a gr eein g a n d im p lem en t in g aw a r e-n ess a e-n d p r e p a r ed e-n ess p r ogr a m m es. It h a s p r oved t o b e ea sily a d a p t a ble t o exis t in g in i-t ia i-t ives a n d loca l cir cu m si-t a n ces.

It is cer t a in t h a t w e sh a ll n ever b e a ble t o say h ow m a n y a ccid en t s AP E LL h a s h elp ed t o aver t . H ow ever, t h e p r ogr a m m e h a s