United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5104)
EPA 550-F-99-009
September 1999
www.epa.gov/ceppo/
               Mentoring Program  Enhances Safety

               Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
               RMP Network is designed to share successful practices in RMP implementation, risk
               communication, and use of the data.  The projects detailed in RMP Network are easily
               reproducible, low cost and promote partnership-building in the community. This factsheet
               does not provide extensive information about a project. Rather, it is intended to help
               stakeholders generate ideas, identify tools and pinpoint funding sources for accident
               preparedness and prevention initiatives.
               Purpose

               The Lehigh Valley/Industry Mutual Aid group took action following a fatal explosion
               at a chemical plant in Allentown that left five workers dead and several other people
               injured. One of the fatalities occurred in an adjacent business in the industrial park near
               the Lehigh Valley International Airport. The explosion leveled the plant, seriously
               damaged nearly a dozen buildings in the industrial park and caused at least $4 to $5
               million in damage. The accident spurred the group to initiate a mentoring program
               aimed at strengthening the safety performance of new "start-up" businesses.

               Through the mentoring program small businesses will receive helpful compliance
               information about environmental, health and safety regulations. Another goal is to
               ensure local businesses are providing a safe work environment.

               Partnerships

               The Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania boasts several highly industrialized cities including
               Allentown and Bethlehem. The area is rapidly growing as many new businesses and
               high-tech industries are re-locating from the New York City metropolitan area to the
               valley.  One of the challenges facing emergency responders and planners is to ensure
               that new businesses are following safe practices, particularly during the start-up phase
               of production. The Lehigh Valley/Industry Mutual Aid group is comprised of
               representatives from the LEPC and local industry.

               Targeting Businesses

               The group has identified 278 companies in the valley that manufacture, use, or handle
               chemicals. The list was compiled from a search of a telephone database and EPA's
               EnviroFacts database. The group's objective is to approach companies with the
               positive aspects of making safety and health a priority and improving their overall
               safety programs.
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
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What Companies Need To Know

The group has determined what services or outreach materials should be provided. In addition to providing
general compliance information, the group wants to provide small businesses with:

•    Worker exposure concentrations;
•    Basic industrial hygiene practices;
•    Respiratory protection requirements;
•    Fire protection requirements;
•    Spill control requirements; and
•    Compatibility of chemicals on site.

Challenges

Local Emergency Planning Committees carry out the emergency planning and community right-to-know aspects
of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act and are a source of information about chemical
risks in the community. Therefore, mentoring project participants are ever watchful that the project does not
usurp the authority of the LEPC.  Finding enough funding without using monies already earmarked for
emergency response is an additional challenge. Additionally, some small businesses may not want to participate
in the program because they fear: loss of proprietary business information; compliance costs; and inspections
and penalties from a government enforcement agency.

Next Steps

The group will:

•    Survey identified businesses to determine if they have conducted a hazards analysis;
•    Contact State agencies and others such as universities to identify small companies;
•    Work with community colleges to offer courses on chemical safety and regulatory compliance; and
•    Gain buy-in from other area companies.

For more information, contact...

Name:                 John Conklin, Director
Organization:          Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency
Address:              455 West Hamilton Street
                      Allentown, PA 18101-1614
E-Mail:              johnconklin@lehighcounty.org
Telephone:            (610) 782-3073
      Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office                                    ;S> Printed on recycled paper

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Additional copies of this and other publications in the RMP Network series are available from:

        National Service Center for Environmental Publications
        Phone: (800)490-9198
        Fax: (513)489-8695
        Email: ncepi.mail@epamail.epa.gov

or you can download an electronic copy from the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office's
web site on the Internet at http://www.epa/gov/ceppo.
    Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office                                       ;S> Printed on recycled paper

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