TRANSCAER honors chemical safety efforts
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefTRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) said Wednesday it is recognizing seven rail transport and chemical companies with its 2010 TRANSCAER National Achievement Award, given to those companies that are helping communities prepare for, and respond to, possible hazardous materials transportation incidents.
Winners this year include five railroads: BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Canadian National Railways-CN Dangerous Goods Team, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific Railroad. Two other companies, DuPont CAER Car Program and the Dow Chemical Co., also are being honored.
“Through TRANSCAER, first responders receive the information and training they need to effectively respond in the unlikely event of a chemical transportation incident, to protect the public and safeguard our communities,” said Rollie Shook, chair of the National TRANSCAER Task Group, and also Global Emergency Services Leader, Emergency Services & Security Expertise Center, for Dow Chemical Co. “The TRANSCAER awards recognize those companies that have undertaken exceptional efforts to ensure the safe and secure transportation of potentially hazardous products.”
TRANSCAER companies train local emergency responders through a combination of hands-on activities, emergency planning assistance, and community drills and exercises, including the use of actual rail and truck equipment, table-top exercises that discuss responses to a possible emergency situation, and whistle-stop tours that bring emergency preparedness training to response organizations in communities across the country.
