The series on chemical accidents covers common principles and policy guidance for chemical accidents prevention, preparedness and response, focusing on key issues such as natural hazard triggered technological (Natech) disaster, involvement and awareness of senior leaders in process safety, ageing of hazardous installations, ownership change in hazardous installations and others.

 

KEY PUBLICATION

A new OECD Decision-Recommendation concerning Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response was adopted by the 2023 Meeting of the OECD Council at the Ministerial Level. The Decision-Recommendation comes with its supporting technical guidance, the newly released Third Edition of the Guiding Principles on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response. The Decision-Recommendation sets out key high-level elements to support the development of a chemical accidents programme covering the fields of prevention, preparedness, and response. It is a consolidation and update of three original OECD legal instruments from 1988 and 2004. The Third Edition of the Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response provides guidance for industry and public authorities for the safe planning and operation of hazardous installations. It also contains elements on communication and engagement with the public. It reflects on lessons learnt from major accidents worldwide since the previous edition in 2003, as well as emerging issues such as those linked to climate change adaptation, and the response to unexpected crises.

 

Chemical Accidents reports

OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response – Third Edition
No. 35, Publication - ENV/CBC/MONO(2023)12

Chemical Accidents Involving Nanomaterials: Potential Risks and Review of Prevention, Preparedness and Response Measures – Project Report
No. 34, ENV/CBC/MONO(2022)19

Good Practices for the Management of Inspections at Hazardous Installations: Project Report (Case Studies)
No. 33, ENV/CBC/MONO(2021)2

Natech Risk Management: 2017-2020 Project Results
No. 32, ENV/JM/MONO(2020)4

Guidance on Change of Ownership in Hazardous Facilities
No. 31, ENV/JM/MONO(2018)31

Workshop Report: Developing a Methodology to Quantify the Benefits of Regulations for Chemical Accidents Prevention, Preparedness and Response 
No. 30, ENV/JM/MONO(2018)3

Ageing of Hazardous Installations
No. 29, ENV/JM/MONO(2017)9

Synthesis Report: Special Session on Facilities Handling Hazardous Substances with Ownership Change
No. 28, ENV/JM/MONO(2016)10

2nd Addendum to the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response (2nd ed.)
To address Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Accidents (Natech) Risk Management
No.27, ENV/JM/MONO(2015)1

Carbon Capture and Long-Term Storage: Analysis of 2010 Survey
No. 26, ENV/JM/MONO(2013)9

Report Of The Workshop On Natech Risk Management (23-25 May 2012, Dresden, Germany)
No. 25, ENV/JM/MONO(2013)4 

Corporate Governance for Process Safety: Guidance for Senior Leaders in High Hazard Industries
No. 24, available in: English French  German  Swedish

Report of the Conference on Corporate Governance for Process Safety
No. 23, ENV/JM/MONO(2012)38

Addendum to the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response (2nd ed.)
No. 22, ENV/JM/MONO(2011)15 

Report of the Workshop on Safety in Marshalling Yards
No. 21, ENV/JM/MONO(2008)34

Report of the OECD-CCA Workshop on Human Factors in Chemical Accidents and Incidents
No. 20, ENV/JM/MONO(2008)6

Guidance on Developing Safety Performance Indicators for Industry
No. 19, PDF

Guidance on Developing Safety Performance Indicators for Public Authorities and Communities/Public
No. 18, PDF

Report of Survey on the Use of Safety Documents in the Control of Major Accident Hazards
No.17, ENV/JM/MONO(2008)4

Report of the OECD-EC Workshop on Risk Assessment Practices for Hazardous Substances Involved in Accidental Releases, 16-18 October 2006, Varese, Italy
No. 16, ENV/JM/MONO(2007)29

Integrated Management Systems (IMS)-Potential Safety Benefits Achievable from Integrated Management of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHE&Q)
No. 15, ENV/JM/MONO(2005)15

Report of the OECD Workshop on Lessons Learned from Chemical Accidents and Incidents, 21-23 September 2004, Karlskoga, Sweden
No. 14, ENV/JM/MONO(2005)6

Report of the OECD Workshop on Sharing Experience in the Training of Engineers in Risk Management, Montreal, Canada, 21-24 October 2003
No. 13, ENV/JM/MONO(2004)4
Also available: Rapport de l’OCDE sur l’Atelier « Partager l'expérience sur la formation des ingénieurs en matière de gestion des risques », Montréal, Canada, du 21 au 24 octobre 2003 (French)

Report of the Workshop on Communication related to Chemical Releases Caused by Deliberate Acts, Rome, Italy, 25-27 June 2003
No. 12, ENV/JM/MONO(2004)3

OECD Guidance on Safety Performance Indicators, 2003, 
No. 11, PDF

OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response, 2003, 
No. 10, PDF

Report of CCPS/OECD Conference and Workshop on Chemical Accident Investigations, Orlando, Florida, United States, 2, 5, and 6 October 2000
2002, Internet Publication

International Directory for Emergency Response Centres
2002, ENV/JM/MONO(2002)11

Report of the OECD Workshop on Integrated Management of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, Seoul, Korea, 26-29 June 2001
No. 9, 2002, ENV/JM/MONO(2002)21

Report of the OECD Workshop on Audits and Inspections related to Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Madrid, Spain, 6-9 March 2001
No. 8, 2002, ENV/JM/MONO(2002)17

Report of the Special Session on Environmental Consequences of Chemical Accidents, Paris, France, 28 November 2000
No. 7, 2002, ENV/JM/MONO(2002)24

Report of the OECD Expert Meeting on Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs)
No. 6, 2001, ENV/JM/MONO(2001)2

Report of the OECD Workshop on New Developments in Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Response -- Lappeenranta, Finland
No. 5, 2001, ENV/JM/MONO(2001)1

Report of the OECD Workshop on Human Performance in Chemical Process Safety: Operating Safety in the Context of Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response
No. 4, 1999, ENV/JM/MONO(99)12

International Assistance Activities Related to Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response
No. 3, 1997, OCDE/GD(97)181

Report of the OECD Workshop on Pipelines (Prevention of, Preparedness for, and Response to Releases of Hazardous Substances)
No. 2, 1997, OCDE/GD(97)180

Report of the OECD Workshop on Risk Assessment and Risk Communication in the Context of Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response
No. 1, 1997, OCDE/GD(97)31

 

Documents published before mid 1996

• Guidance concerning Health Aspects of Chemical Accidents. For Use in the Establishment of Programmes and Policies Related to Prevention of, Preparedness for, and Response to Accidents Involving Hazardous Substances, OCDE/GD(96)104
  To Be Read in Conjunction with the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response Areas
• Environment Monograph No. 118 --1996-- Guidance Concerning Chemical Safety in Port Areas. Guidance for the Establishment of Programmes and Policies Related to Prevention of, Preparedness for, and Response to Accidents Involving Hazardous Substances. Prepared as a Joint Effort of the OECD and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), OCDE/GD(96)39 (available in English, French and Spanish)
• No. 95 -1995- Report of the OECD Workshop on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Relation to Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response (available in English)
• No. 94 -1995- Report of the OECD Special Session on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response at Transport Interfaces (available in English)
• No. 93 -1994- Report of the OECD Workshop on Chemical Safety in Port Areas
  [This Workshop was co-sponsored by OECD, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UNEP. Also see Monograph No. 118 below.] (available in English)
• No. 81 -1994-  Health Aspects of Chemical Accidents: Guidance on Chemical Accident Awareness, Preparedness and Response for Health Professionals and Emergency Responders [Four international organisations collaborated in the preparation of this publication: the international Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), the OECD, UNEP IE, and the World Health Organization - European Centre for Environmental and Health (WHO-ECEH).] (English and French)
• No. 66 -- 1993 Report of the OECD Workshop on Strategies for Transporting Dangerous Goods by Road: Safety and Environmental Protection (available in English)