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Emergency Advice It is our policy to design our processes and manufacture and distribute our products in a responsible manner so that our employees, customers, the public and the environment are protected from unacceptable risk. In every aspect of our business activities this is a top priority. We fully support cradle to grave stewardship of our products and the principles of Responsible Care as we actively seek to minimise the impact of our business activities on the local and global environment. Our manufacturing site in the UK is certified to the ISO 14001 environmental standard. We work with a number of organisations to deliver this commitment, and operate in full accordance with all laws and regulations, based on location, that apply to our industry. An important responsibility is to ensure that we plan for emergencies. Such planning includes understanding what emergencies could occur; how we can reduce the risk; what we would do to control an emergency; and how we would protect employees, the community and the environment. Safety & Emergency Advice for the Community The chemical industry is one of the most tightly regulated industries today and has an excellent safety record. In today's modern society our industry is invaluable - making products that save lives, protect and promote health, and enhance standards of living around the world. However, this contribution must be balanced with the need to ensure that the health and safety of people is protected and that the environment is not harmed. Mexichem Fluor RSV Site, Runcorn, UK This information is aimed at the local community, who live and work near to the Mexichem Fluor operations at its Rocksavage Site, Runcorn, UK. Introduction In the UK, chemical production sites such as that operated by Mexichem at Runcorn Site are strictly regulated to ensure that there are adequate safety and emergency plans in place to protect people and the environment from any potential hazards. The Health & Safety Executive (the government agency responsible for protecting public safety) and the Environment Agency implement these regulations. By law, we have to provide people who live or work near to Runcorn Site with information about our safety and emergency procedures. This is because Runcorn Site is regulated under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH). Under the COMAH Regulations, Mexichem remains obliged to send safety and emergency advice to people who live and work in the Public Information Zone for Runcorn Site. The information is sent out every five years - the last issues was December 2011. If you receive such information, it is very important that you read it carefully and retain it for future reference. The Public Information Zone for Runcorn Site The area to which we must distribute safety and emergency information for Runcorn Site is set by the Health & Safety Executive. The Public Information Zone for Runcorn Site has been set to cover five electoral wards in Halton (Beechwood, Grange, Halton Lea, Mersey and Heath) and a section of Frodsham nearest to our site. If you would like to check whether your property is located within the Public Information Zone, or you live or work in the Zone and do not currently have a copy of the safety and emergency information, please contact us: Alida Lloyd Communications Officer Mexichem Fluor The Heath Business & Technical Park Runcorn Cheshire WA7 4QX Tel: 01928 511162 Email: alida.lloyd@mexichem.com So what is the safety and emergency information? Emergency instructions for those in the Public Information Zone are issued in the form of a Safety Advice Card. The Safety Advice Card explains what local residents should do if there is a major emergency involving Mexichem at Runcorn Site. In addition to the Safety Advice Card residents will receive a more detailed Safety Information Sheet that provides information about the substances we make, store or handle at Runcorn Site and the measures we take to prevent major accidents and emergencies. Local residents and workers should take time to familiarise themselves with the information given on the Safety Advice Card and keep it in a place where it can be found quickly during an emergency. They should also make others in their home or place of work aware of the card. The emergency instructions for Runcorn Site are as follows: If you become aware of a serious emergency or hear the warning siren* you should:
When the major emergency is over the siren will sound a single long blast, which means that it is to go outside again. Testing of the major emergency alarm Tests on the siren are done weekly on a Monday at 13:00hrs and are characterised by one short blast. How do we prevent emergencies? To reduce the risk of an emergency at Runcorn Site we build in safety measures at every stage of our operations. We also carry out training programmes to make sure our employees are competent in the duties they have to perform. Inspectors from the Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency regularly visit our site to make sure we are working safely and with respect for the environment. In addition to external regulation we also regularly audit (check) our facilities and our safety management systems. Where can I get more information about COMAH? If you live in Halton or Cheshire West & Chester you can contact the Risk and Emergency Planning Division at Halton Borough Council at the following address: Risk and Emergency Planning Division Halton Borough Council Municipal Building Kingsway Widnes Cheshire WA8 7QF Telephone: 0151 471 7391 Other contacts: The Environment Agency Appleton House 430 Birchwood Boulevard Birchwood Warrington WA3 7WD Telephone: 01925 840000 The Health & Safety Executive Hazardous Installation Directorate HID 2.2 Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle L20 7HS Tel: 0151 951 3540 |
