A helpful chemical reaction
THE MASSIVE explosion in a paint and ink factory that leveled a Danvers neighborhood in November 2006 revealed perilous gaps in the regulation and inspection of chemical processing plants across the state. Now it falls to state lawmakers to address the incendiary situation.
A bill sponsored by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts seeks to provide oversight of hundreds of companies, large and small, where the mixing of chemicals now takes place without adequate checks.
Large chemical processors that already comply with federal and state regulations aren't likely to welcome an added layer of regulation. But many smaller mixing facilities appear to be operating with little regard for uniform standards or safety plans, according to the fire chiefs. And local safety inspectors are often clueless when companies exceed authorized limits for the storage and processing of chemicals. That was the case in Danvers, according to the state fire marshal's office, where CAI Inc. and Arnel Co. had stored twice the amount of flammable chemicals allowed by the town.
Lawmakers should have seen and heard this problem coming in 2005, when a blast blew the roof off a Leominster chemical plant. But it took the destruction of some 100 buildings in a Danvers neighborhood to bring the lesson home. Passage of the bill should help to prevent future blow-ups by creating a database of companies involved in chemical processing; establishing a schedule of inspections; and staffing the fire marshal's office with a small cadre of chemical safety engineers to assist local fire departments.
Concord Fire Chief Kenneth Willette, head of the Fire Chiefs' Association, says the bill is aimed at companies that use chemicals in the manufacturing process, not at photo processors, dry cleaners, and other small businesses. But lawmakers will be looking for more detail about the size and types of facilities to be covered by the bill. Any component that strengthens enforcement and inspections should be warmly received by the public. Care should also be taken not to duplicate standards for the mixing and safekeeping of chemicals covered under federal OSHA and state Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
An opportunity to strengthen the bill could come as early as May 13, when the federal Chemical Safety Board, which investigates chemical accidents, releases its final report on the Danvers explosion. The report is expected to include recommendations on site inspections, fire code modernization, and other safety factors. The more lawmakers can learn from Danvers, the less volatile the situation will be. 