EcoCity Cleveland Journal (Winter 1997-1998)
<http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/>

Neighbors of the City of Solon Waste Water Treatment Plant and Ohio Aluminum Industries in Garfield Heights are safer from accidental exposure to toxic chemicals due to risk reduction measures taken by the management of these two facilities. At a recent seminar on emergency planning for chemical accidents, the Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), presented its Risk Reduction Recognition Awards to these two facilities.

Ohio Aluminum Industries worked with its chemical supplier and with the Garfield Heights Fire Department to determine the root cause of sulfur dioxide leaks at their plant. They came up with an inherently safer redesign that eliminated the use of heating to move the sulfur dioxide through the process and substituted a nitrogen-fed system.

The Solon Waste Water Treatment Plant dramatically improved the safety of its operation by eliminating the use of chlorine and sulfur dioxide for waste water disinfection. After pilot testing to insure effectiveness, they substituted an ultraviolet light disinfection system. Not only is the new system safer, but it is also cost-effective because of lowered safety and compliance costs.

"These two facilities are terrific models of the risk reduction process," according to Stuart Greenberg, a member of the LEPC's management committee and director of Environmental Health Watch, a nonprofit organization that addresses chemical hazards in the workplace and community. "They analyzed their chemical hazards, assessed the off-site consequences of a credible accident, and noted the problems of effective emergency response. Then they did the hard work to see if there were feasible safer alternatives to the current system and implemented the desired changes. The result is significantly improved safety for their employees and the neighboring community. And, there are cost savings, as well, in safety equipment and training, regulatory compliance and liability insurance."

Previous winners of the risk reduction awards were the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). The sewer district eliminated the use of over 1,000 tons of chlorine a year (18 55-ton railroad tank cars) at its three waste water treatment plants by substituting much safer hypochlorite for disinfection of effluent. Hazards analysis by the LEPC had revealed that a worst-case accident involving a chlorine tank car could have exposed people more that ten miles downwind to dangerous concentrations of chlorine gas.

The LEPC's analysis of ALCOA's 13,000 gallon tank of hydrofluoric acid indicated that toxic concentrations could extend ten miles in a catastrophic accident. When made aware of the risks to employees and the community, ALCOA formed a multi-disciplinary team to review their processes and possible alternatives. Operational changes recommended by the team led to the complete elimination of on-site storage of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid, eliminating the possibility of an accident that could have a devastating impact on the community. The process changes also resulted in substantial pollution prevention -- 45-percent reduction in chemical use and 90-percent reduction in off-site disposal of hazardous waste.

[TOP]