FocusUS industry gains ground against terror

30 August 2007 19:17  [Source: ICIS news]

By Ivan Lerner

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--Chemical manufacturers have been gaining ground against potential threats to site security since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, industry officials said on Thursday.

Producers have been seeking to neutralise potential threats to their facilities by updating security plans and implementing enhanced security measures, as part of sweeping changes which have included the designation of chemical site security as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mandate.

According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), its 133 members have spent roughly $5bn increasing security at about 2,000 locations since 2001.

Industry sources have said that following the attacks on the US, site security was raised to the same level as site safety.

The old concept of security at facilities as a system of guards, gates, and alarms was replaced by high-tech layers of electronic site defenses.

“Since 9/11, the pace and emphasis of our security efforts has significantly increased, with the focus now on external attacks,” said Tim Scott, chief security officer for Dow Chemical.

Cyber security is an area of special concern, particularly since open automation systems at US facilities are potentially vulnerable to cyber attack, according to Jason Urso, managing director for Honeywell Process Solutions.

In some cases, the costs have met with operational benefits.

Bill Koch, global director of process safety integrity for Air Products, noted that his company has also seen a measurable decrease in theft and vandalism, “which has had a positive impact on our bottom line.”

Members of the ACC must abide by the organisation’s Responsible Care Security Code (RCSC), which required site security assessments by the end of 2003 and improvements to be put in place by December 2004.

When risks are identified under the new code, the company applies the right tool to reduce the site’s vulnerability.

“There is no silver bullet that is going to solve every issue at every site,” noted Dow’s Tim Scott.

Terry Wood, director of engineering and security applications for Wackenhut, a security provider for major chemical manufacturers around the world, said controlling access to facilities is fundamental. Perimeter protection, increased surveillance, and enhanced ability to respond reinforce the site security.

“If you are looking at preventing sabotage, these are the simplest, best things you can do,” said Wood.

[For more about the state of security in the chemical industry, read the September 3 issue of ICIS Chemical Business.]

By: Ivan Lerner
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