"Emergency Preparedness: Findings from CSB Accident Investigations"

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the importance of training as one component of preparedness is a 20-minute video produced by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).

The video, entitled "Emergency Preparedness: Findings from CSB Accident Investigations (6/10/2009)," uses footage and computer animation to describe the causes, results, and lessons learned from actual chemical disasters. This video is an excellent resource and is especially relevant for managers of facilities that use and store hazardous materials.

The video can be accessed by visiting the online link at http://www.csb.gov/videoroom/detail.aspx?vid=29&F=0&CID=1&pg=1&F_All=y (this link opens in a new window).

The video includes an incident from Apex, North Carolina where a fire at a hazardous waste handling facility resulted in a shelter-in-place order and an evacuation of 17,000 residents. Also on the video is a description of an incident in Institute, West Virginia, where responders to a fire at a pesticide manufacturing facility were hampered by a lack of information due to lack of planning on the part of the managers of the facility.