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OEF Environmental Initiatives Summary Series No. 1:
Awareness and
Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level (APELL)
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What is APELL? |
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 The programme was
developed by UNEP in
conjunction with governments and industry. |
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The purpose is to minimise the occurrence and harmful
effects of technological accidents and environmental emergencies. |
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The goals are to prevent loss of life or damage to health
and social well-being, avoid property damage, and ensure
environmental safety in the local community. |
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The strategy is to identify and create awareness of risks
in an industrialised community, to initiate measures for risk
reduction and mitigation, and to develop coordinated preparedness
between industry, local authorities and the local population. |
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How would you describe the APELL
process? |
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1 |
Identify emergency response
participants; establish roles, resources and concerns. |
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2 |
Evaluate the hazards and
risks that may result in emergency situations. |
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3 |
Have participants review
their own emergency response plan. |
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4 |
Identify the required
response tasks not covered by existing plans. |
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5 |
Match these tasks to the
resources of the identified participants. |
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6 |
Make changes to existing
plan, integrate into overall community plan and gain
agreement. |
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7 |
Commit the integrated plan
to writing and obtain approval from local government. |
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Educate participates about
the plan and ensure all emergency responders are trained. |
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Establish procedures for
periodic testing, review and updating of the plan. |
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Educate the community about
the plan. |
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Accidents inevitably
accompany offshore development...
They are the source of
environmental pollution at all stages of oil and gas production.
The most typical causes of accidents include equipment failure,
personnel mistakes, and extreme natural impacts (seismic activity,
ice fields, hurricanes, and so on). Their main hazard is connected
with the spills and blowouts of oil, gas, and numerous other
chemical substances and compounds. The environmental consequences
of accidental episodes are especially severe, sometimes dramatic,
when they happen near the shore, in shallow waters, or in areas
with slow water circulation (Patin, 1999). |
"APELL is a modular, flexible methodological tool for preventing
accidents and failing this, to minimise their impacts"
"Helping people
prevent, prepare and respond appropriately to accidents and
emergencies".
 
Further information:
www.uneptie.org/pc/apell/
offshore.environment@unep.fr
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What are the benefits of APELL? |
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Even if risks are believed
to be low, the consequences to a company of a major accident can be
severe in physical, financial and reputational terms. APELL can help
protect the company as well as the community by reducing the likelihood
of accidents and reducing their impacts.
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Companies are becoming
more transparent, proactive and responsive in their relationships with
stakeholders. Emergency preparedness planning requires effective
communication between all parties, which helps to build relationships
based on common interest. APELL can help to build relationships
between a company and the community which will be of benefit over the
longterm.
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Relationships with between a company
and community will be severely tested if there is a major accident, but
if trust exists, the company will be better placed to communicate
effectively in the case of an emergency as well as to recover more
quickly from one. APELL can foster community awareness and understanding
of the operation and its management which should generate the
confidence, trust and support which companies need whether or not they
experience an accident.
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