Information Access and Sharing
GOALS
- Up-to-date information needed for the effective implementation of the Chemical Accidents Programme is available
- Mechanisms are in place to provide access to the information, and to share information with stakeholders.
Information is a critical component of successful implementation of any Chemical Accidents Programme and, therefore, efforts need to be made to ensure that information is available, accessible and maintained up-to-date. This includes, for example: a dictionary/thesaurus of the local names of the hazardous chemicals; information on the characteristics of hazardous chemicals (such as how they react when released and their potential adverse effects in the event of an accident); risk assessment methodologies; first aid measures; locations of hazardous installations; and accident reports.
Much of the information is available from existing sources and, therefore, just needs to be collected and organised.
Suggested activities include:
- Determine the types of information needed for the Chemical Accidents Programme and identify sources of this information
- Systematically collect and record information
- Establish administrative structures, databases and other mechanisms to facilitate collecting, reviewing, maintaining, and accessing the information (including information received from industry in the context of notifications, safety reports and accident reports)
- Establish an accidents reporting scheme
- Establish mechanisms for sharing information, as appropriate (among government bodies, with non-governmental stakeholders, and with other countries)
- Ensure effective provision of information to the potentially affected public
- Promote exchange of experience and lessons learned
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- UNEP: A Flexible Framework for Addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness: An Implementation Support Package (2012)
- International Programme on Chemical Safety, INCHEM: Chemical Safety Information from Intergovernmental Organizations
- OECD: eChemPortal
- UNEP: A Flexible Framework for addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness – A Guidance Document (2010)
- Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)