Site Selection and Buffer Zone Maintenance

Incidents such as the 2013 West Fertilizer Company and the 2015 Tianjin, China explosions demonstrate why it is crucial to maintain adequate buffer zones between hazardous chemicals and the community. A buffer zone is an expanse of land that separates hazardous operations and chemicals from public r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering progress 2023-03, Vol.119 (3), p.52-57
Main Authors: Study, Karen, Currie, John
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buffer zones
Chemical engineering
Chemical industry
Chemicals
Community
Explosions
Fatalities
Fertilizers
Government industry relations
Land use planning
Leadership
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Summary:Incidents such as the 2013 West Fertilizer Company and the 2015 Tianjin, China explosions demonstrate why it is crucial to maintain adequate buffer zones between hazardous chemicals and the community. A buffer zone is an expanse of land that separates hazardous operations and chemicals from public receptors (e.g., homes, schools, and hospitals). As part of a set of risk mitigation measures, it is vital that manufacturers site new operations with adequate buffer zones between industry and the community, as well as maintain and improve buffer zones at existing facilities. Additionally, it is critical that the chemical industry partners with government agencies to ensure that existing buffer zones are not compromised due to local development. Here, Study and Currie discuss why buffer zones are important to establish and maintain around chemical processing facilities. It introduces the buffer zone requirements that one chemical company has implemented to protect local communities around operational sites.
ISSN:0360-7275
1945-0710