OECD work on Chemical Accidents The OECD released in June 2023: l a new Decision-Recommendation
concerning Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response; and
l its supporting technical guidance,
the Guiding Principles on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response - Third edition.
Chemical accidents with serious consequences continue to happen in OECD Member countries and worldwide. Over the past decades, major accidents have caused deaths, injuries, significant environmental pollution and massive economic losses. Since the 1980s, the OECD has worked on the challenges raised by chemical accidents. The OECD has developed key standards and tools to support industry and public authorities in preventing chemical accidents and, recognising that such events may nonetheless occur, to mitigate adverse effects through effective emergency preparedness and accident response.
ABOUT THE NEW DECISION-RECOMMENDATION The OECD Decision-Recommendation concerning Chemical Accidents Prevention, Preparedness and Response sets out key highlevel elements to support the development of a chemical accidents programme. It aims to help public authorities to respond to the continued occurrence of chemical accidents with loss of life, injuries and damage to property and the environment. It addresses critical issues such as: l the identification of hazardous installations l the development of safety objectives
and a control framework l land-use planning l investigation of accidents and the
development of lessons learnt l transboundary accidents and l cooperation and technical assistance.
The Decision-Recommendation is a consolidation and update of three original OECD legal instruments from 1988 and 2004.