Chemical Plants and Terrorism: A Call to Action
Author Information
Author(s): Tobi Mae Lippin, Thomas H. McQuiston, Kristin Bradley-Bull, Toshiba Burns-Johnson, Linda Cook, Michael L. Gill, Donna Howard, Thomas A. Seymour, Doug Stephens, Brian K. Williams
Primary Institution: New Perspectives Consulting Group Inc.
Hypothesis
Are current voluntary efforts sufficient to secure chemical plants against terrorist attacks?
Conclusion
The study reveals that voluntary security measures at chemical plants are inadequate to prevent potential terrorist attacks.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 18% of respondents felt their companies' prevention actions were effective.
- Companies infrequently involved local unions and communities in security planning.
- Many facilities had not updated emergency response plans or informed local hospitals about potential hazards.
Takeaway
Chemical plants are not safe from terrorists, and we need to do more to protect them and the communities around them.
Methodology
The study used a participatory research approach, surveying union leaders at chemical plants about security measures since September 11.
Potential Biases
Respondents often selected 'don't know' for company actions, indicating potential bias in the data.
Limitations
The findings are based on perceptions rather than independent assessments, and the study's design limits generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Respondents included union leaders from various chemical plants, with a response rate of 70%.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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