Implementation of Comprehensive Emergency Management Program at Weyerhaeuser's Plymouth, N.C. Mill, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Like most paper mills, Weyerhaeuser’s Plymouth, North Carolina Mill had developed, in an ad hoc fashion, a number of emergency contingency plans and programs during the past several decades. Many plans had become obsolete or outdated. Numerous independent, departmental emergency teams were developed to deal with distinct hazards. These teams worked independently of one another, and some were better trained than others. As the general public became more aware of chemical hazards in the late 1980’s, there was increasing concern in the community about the Mill’s environmental protection and human safety programs. While a lot of resources were put into the emergency program, no one was certain how cost-effective the program really was.

Management came to believe that a more effective program could be developed, and after attending a seminar on emergency planning in 1988, Weyerhaeuser managers undertook a thorough evaluation of their entire emergency preparedness and response program. The review concluded that many contingency plans were out of date, uncoordinated, or too hard to implement. It also concluded that some of the emergency teams were unnecessary and that many emergency response team members required additional training. Finally, they decided that some mill hazards needed additional assessment. Weyerhaeuser’s managers faced a dilemma - how would they develop an effective program that would comply with ever expanding regulations, while maintaining fiscal restraint.