An exercise took place recently at INOVYN’s Runcorn site to test and validate the effectiveness of the External Emergency Response Plan which would be used in the event of a major emergency at the site.
Halton Borough Council has a statutory duty under the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations to produce an off-site multi agency emergency response plan for the INOVYN site.
These regulations govern chemical sites that make, store or handle hazardous substances and are designed to ensure that effective measures are in place to protect people and the environment in the event of a major chemical emergency.
Therefore, a live exercise was held as part of the routine testing schedule. In addition to Halton Borough Council, INOVYN, Koura, Vynova and Runcorn MCP, the exercise involved representatives from the emergency services who would manage the response to a major emergency, along with health agencies, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, the Council’s Executive Board member for Risk and Emergency Planning, said: “Our priority is to ensure people living, working or visiting Halton are safe. The successful testing of this response plan gives reassurance to all involved that, in the unlikely event of a major emergency occurring at this site, a quick and efficient response would take place to mitigate any effects for the local community.”