Juncture of public health and industrial safety where chemical incidents are concerned: An analysis of the regulatory model within which current chemical incidents occur and regulatory paths forward

Background/Objective Public Health and Process Safety are inextricably linked and often framed by the regulatory model in which they exist. Chemical releases and explosions from chemical facilities, transportation mediums or oil platforms into the community and the environment not only impact workers but also affect members of the public. The regulatory model within which the facility operates can offer insight into understanding of why an incident occurred in the first place and prevention of future incidents. Through analysis of a number of Chemical Safety Board Investigations including the Deepwater Horizon investigation and other chemical incidents that resulted in significant impact to the community or the environment, this presentation demonstrates the links between the concept of process safety in the industrial sector and public health within a their regulatory context. Through analysis of these various chemical incidents this presentation will assess the United States fractured safety regulatory system that does not adequately protect the public or workers from occupational or environmental hazards and demonstrate regulatory models that may offer more preventative alternatives. Methods Findings from qualitative research and analysis of the regulatory framework within which recent chemical incidents occurred, will be discussed. Results/Conclusions The links between industrial safety incidents and their impact on members of the public offers insight into an existing regulatory framework that inadequately protects the public and workers from catastrophic incidents. Various regulatory models demonstrating alternatives to our fractured regulatory system will be presented.