TAKE ACTION NOW!

A Campaign By The NJ Work Environment Council Safety and Security First Protect our jobs, families and hometowns from toxic chemical disasters

There are over 4,500 facilities in New Jersey that use or store 10,000 pounds or more of hazardous substances capable of harming worker health and safety and damaging surrounding communities.  An accident or terrorist attack on any of these facilities could endanger thousands, and in some cases, millions, of lives.  The NJ Work Environment Council is working with labor, environmental and community organizations to make sure these facilities are safe and secure.

Potential Risk: A worst-case chemical release from the potentially most hazardous facility in our state, located in Hudson County, could harm up to an estimated 12 million people in New Jersey and New York City.

Nearly five years have passed since the September 11^th terrorist attacks and there are still no clear and comprehensive federal or state standards addressing safety and security at facilities using hazardous chemicals.  While New Jersey has taken some useful first steps, such as the adoption of Best Practice Standards (BPS) for the chemical industry, much more needs to be done. New Jersey’s policy for chemical security still relies on voluntary industry efforts.

NJ’s Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Success Story Among the top 15 facilities in New Jersey that report the most hazardous potential for worst-case scenario chemical releases, none are public sector water treatment facilities using chlorine. This fact is a direct result of the state’s Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA), enacted after the 1984 Bhopal, India, chemical disaster that killed thousands. Now, most wastewater treatment facilities in New Jersey that reported using chlorine gas when the program began in 1988 have eliminated or significantly reduced their use of chlorine gas.

WEC and our allies are asking Governor Corzine to issue safeguards to ensure that chemical plants, railcars and other industries using hazardous chemicals :

Are safely designed, operated and protected. Are staffed with enough trained workers to run safely. Involve workers, their unions and communities to prevent hazards. Respect our legal “right-to-know” about toxic dangers. Are closely monitored by enough state inspectors to protect safely.

In May 2006, WEC issued a report, “Safety and Security First:  Protecting Our Jobs, Families, and Hometowns From Toxic Chemical Disasters,” which identifies 110 facilities in New Jersey that handle the most dangerous toxic chemicals, and calculates those potentially at risk in the event of a worst-case chemical release at each location if there were ever an accident or terrorist attack.  It also includes recommendations for state policy to help reduce risks.  View the report. 

 How you can help!

• Sign our petition.

• Write a letter to Governor Corzine.

• Write a letter to your local paper.

• Volunteer to get Safety and Security First postcards signed at local event.

• Make a financial contribution to WEC.
  
  If you would like to volunteer or receive more information, contact Denise Patel at dpatel@njwec.org or (609) 695-7100.
  
  For more information on Inherently Safer Technology (IST) go to NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

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