As we come to the close of another year, security remains a primary concern among facility managers and environmental experts, according to Business & Legal Reports, Inc. (BLR). In fact, 34% of respondents to a recent BLR poll indicated that security issues loom as their top environmental concern in 2003.

When asked if they have confidence in their workplace security program, 74% of the responses to that poll were negative. And 66% of respondents to a BLR poll concerning homeland security do not have confidence in EPA’s effectiveness on the issue.

When BLR asked its environmental experts nationwide what they expect the dominant issues will be in 2003, most placed facility security at the top of the list.

As facility vulnerability becomes a bigger issue and less information is made available to the public in order to protect sensitive data, expect right-to-know issues to counter the drive toward stricter control of facilities’ critical info.

Still, most experts agree that ensuring the safety of these potentially volatile plants and facilities will outweigh most concerns over freedom of information. How has the environmental landscape changed since 9/11, and are there any enviro operations that may need to be changed as a result of the terrorist attacks? Although the responses spanned the gamut, a few issues cut across the board:

• Security. Everyone is worried about security. A key to risk management is inventory control. Only keep on site what you are going to need in the short term.
• Emergency preparedness. Don’t wait for the government to tell you what to do. Be proactive and make a serious assessment of your facility’s vulnerabilities and your emergency plans. Listen to your workers, because they might know about minor details most sweeping reviews tend to overlook.
• Community outreach. Ensure the community in which your facility is located knows your company is doing everything it can to keep them safe. It is important to develop a solid relationship with everyone, including any transporters with which you may contract.

BLR publishes an annual Enviro Survey in its Environmental Compliance in [Your State] newsletter. Visit BLR’s website at www.blr.com or call them at 1-800-727-5257 for a free 30-day trial of any product. For a copy of the results of BLR’s Enviro 2003, contact Clare Condon at ccondon@blr.com.