CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS Programme Working Group on Chemical Accidents

CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS: SCOPE Development of common principles, procedures and policy guidance on prevention of, preparedness for, and response to chemical accidents Analysis of issues of concern and recommendations for best practices Information/experience sharing and communication

KEY DOCUMENTS OECD Guidance on Developing Safety Performance Indicators related to Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response Guidance on Corporate Governance for Process Safety (CGPS)- Guidance for Senior Leaders in High Hazard Industries (available in 9 languages) OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response

CURRENT PROJECTS Ageing of hazardous installations Objectives: Steering Group: France (Lead Country), the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Commission, People’s Republic of China, and UNECE. Objectives: Raising/increasing awareness of consequences of the ageing of hazardous installations. Making recommendations for developing best practices with respect to the prevention of, preparedness for and response to ageing installations-related accidents Making a proposal for enhancement of the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response Developing guidance on ageing of hazardous installations. Expected Outcomes: (A workshop in late 2014/early 2015) Recommendations for the WGCA Workshop Report that includes recommendations for public authorities and industrial operators Addendum to the Guiding Principles Actions: 1. Survey (revision at the moment and in this year will be circulated to the WG participants. 2. Based on the responses a Discussion Paper will be develop. 3. Workshop (first half) planned in a member country. Objective: investigate the need for further guidance and possibly start to discuss the content of such guidance. 4. Workshop Report: includes recommendations for public authorities and industrial operators. 5. Guidance Document- if needed-

CURRENT PROJECTS Hazardous Substance Handling Facilities with Ownership Change Steering Group: Norway (Lead Country), Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, People's Republic of China and BIAC. Objectives: Greater awareness by industry, public authorities and other stakeholders of the safety implications of change of ownership of companies. Benefit the programme through the identification of issues that should be focused by industry, public authorities and other stakeholders. Produce specific guidance to be incorporated in the Guiding Principles or other OECD publications. Expected Outcomes: Recommendations/Conclusions can be add to the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response Special Publication Actions: Face-to-face meeting 23rd WGCA Meeting 1. Engage Consultant 2. International Literature Review 3. Develop and circulate Survey 4. Discussion Document. 5. Special Session Half day 24th WGCA (2014). 6. Conclusions and recommendations could be incorporated to the Guiding Principles and/or Special Publication.

CURRENT PROJECTS Natural-hazard triggered technological accidents Steering Group: Germany (Lead Country), Czech Republic, France, Italy, Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdome, UNECE, and UNEP Workshop on Natech Risk Management (23-25 May, 2012. Germany) (the report is publish and available on-line ENV/JM/MONO(2013)40 Draft Addendum to the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response. (to be endorse at the 23rd WGCA meeting) Discussion of the amendment of the OECD Council Recommendation on the Application of the Polluter-Pays Principle to Accidental Pollution [C(89)88/FINAL]

CURRENT PROJECTS Risk of major accidents involving manufactured nanomaterials Steering Group: Switzerland (Lead Country), Japan, Germany, France, UK, BIAC Objectives: Assess risks for humans and the environment resulting from major accidents involving nanomaterials, for example, accidental releases of larger quantities of nanomaterials into the area surrounding an establishment. Address safety issues related to the prevention of, preparedness for and response to major accidents involving nanomaterials. Collaboration: OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials- Risk Assessment Group. Expected Outcome: Report (2014)

Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting on Industrial Accidents As a follow-up of a Special Session International Programmes on chemical accident prevention, preparedness and response held at the 22nd WGCA meeting (October 2012) 1st Meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting on Industrial Accidents (April 2013,) Hosted by UNECE Participants: IGO’s, NGO’s, and invited countries. Objective: Establish a mechanism for co-operation and co-ordination amongst international organisations in the field of chemical accidents. Update one another on-going/future projects to identify synergy. Outcome: Document that will summarise the main areas of work of each organisation involved. Identify synergies and strengthen collaboration amongst organisations: For example: UNEP Flexible Framework Expert Working Group Meeting will be held back-to-back with the OECD WGCA in November 2013.

25 Anniversary of the Chemical Accidents Programme A Special Session is being organized for the 23rd meeting of the WGCA (Tuesday 5th Nov 2013) Chair of the Session: Mr. Gunnar Hem (Norway) Publication to celebrate 25 years of the Chemical Accidents Programme; Review of Past Achievements Identify areas of work for the Chemical Accidents Programme relevant for OECD countries and other Partners.

Chemical Accidents Public Website http://www.oecd.org/env/ehs/risk- management/chemicalaccidents.htm Contact mar.gonzalez@oecd.org