The Co-Intelligence Institute // CII home // Y2K home
From: Jerry Poje
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999
{see May 1999 Update and Safety Report below}
Greetings,
Steve Viederman from the Jesse Smith Noyes Foundation suggested that I transmit the following information. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's recently issued a report on the Year 2000 (Y2K) Technology problem and Chemical Safety, available at: http://www.csb.gov/1999/news/n9919.htm.
In synopsis, the Y2K problem is a significant and unprecedented problem in the chemical manufacturing and handling sector. It poses unique risks to business continuity and worker and public health and safety.
* Large enterprises with sufficient awareness, leadership,
planning, financial and human resources are unlikely to experience
catastrophic failures and business continuity problems unless
their current progress is interrupted or there are massive failures
of utilities and other sectors.
* The overall situation with small and mid-sized enterprises is
indeterminate, but efforts on the Y2K problem appears to be less
than appropriate based upon inputs from many experts.
* While the impact of governmental process safety regulations
should be positive, there are no special emphases or even specific
mention of Year 2000 technology hazards in either U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency or Occupational Safety and Health Administration
regulations.
* Federal agencies are aware of and involved in Year 2000 technology
and chemical safety issues. However, significant gaps exist, and
there do not appear to be specific plans to address these gaps.
Y2K compliance activities reported to the Chemical Safety Board
to date have not found a failure (embedded microchips or software)
which by itself could cause a catastrophic chemical accident.
However, it is unclear what the outcome might be from multiple
concurrent, sequential or cascading failures, e.g., multiple control
system failures, multiple utility failures, or a combination of
multiple utility and control system failures. Devices at risk
in facilities include: alarm and emergency systems, system controls,
lightning controls, process controllers, pumps, refrigeration
controls, valves and larger system controllers. Surveillance of
the industrial sector that handles high hazard chemicals is insufficient
to draw detailed conclusions regarding Y2K compliance efforts,
especially for small and mid-sized enterprises.
I appreciate your efforts on behalf of community health, safety and economy. Please share the report with your colleagues. I welcome your review and comments, particularly on ways to involve communities in promoting safety around the Y2K problem.
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From: Jerry
Poje
Subject: Y2K and Chemical Safety Report
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
Senator Bennett held a field hearing in Trenton, NJ yesterday on the issue of chemical safety and Y2K. Attached is my testimony http://www.csb.gov/1999/news/n9925.htm
The full hearing record should be on the Senate Special Committee website soon. If you or colleagues have a perspective on this aspect of Y2K, the Committee also will accept written testimony for the hearing record until May 24, 1999.
I also was interviewed by Laura Knoy at NPR for a feature on
the "Living on Earth" radio show. It should air on 200
stations this weekend, and will be available via "Real Audio"
on their website
(http://www.livingonearth.org/html/audio.html).
Best wishes,
- Jerry
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From: Jerry Poje
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999
Greetings,
The CSB has added a Y2K section to its website at [http://www.chemsafety.gov/y2k].
On Monday, March 15th, the agency will post its Y2K report to the Special U.S. Senate Committee on the Y2K Technology Problem. The report may be viewed and downloaded from the Y2K section. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Best wishes,
Jerry
*****
http://www.chemsafety.gov/1999/news/n9925.htm
Year 2000 Computer Technology Problem and Chemical Safety Issues
Testimony of Gerald V. Poje, Ph.D. Member, U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology United States Senate Field Hearing Trenton, New Jersey May 10, 1999
End = "The overall situation with small and mid-sized enterprises is indeterminate, but efforts on the Y2K problem appears to be less than appropriate based upon inputs from many experts. Federal agencies are aware of and involved in Year 2000 technology and chemical safety issues. However, significant gaps exist, and there do not appear to be specific plans to address these gaps."
http://www.cmahq.com/cmawebsite.nsf/pages/newsinfo -- CMA represents the 190 largest manufacturers.
05/11/99 CMA Y2K Workshop What information are companies communicating to their communities with regard to their Y2K status? Is this enough? Is it too much? Look at examples of various programs and materials.
05/05/99 The Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem will be holding a Field Hearing. The principle focus of the hearing is the potential impact Y2K may have on industrial chemical safety.
04/30/99 Results of the CMA Survey on Chemical Industry Y2K Readiness
04/22/99 Survey on Y2K Readiness The ability of the public infrastructure to meet the Year 2000 challenge is coming under increased public scrutiny. Congress, states, environmentalists, governments agencies and the media have asked CMA: "do we know how well our members are doing to meet the Y2K challenge?" This survey, prepared by CMA members, will assist us in providing the important answer to that question.
04/13/99 State Legislators May Unintentionally Hinder State Environmental Enforcement Programs: State legislators in an attempt to limit liability for Y2K glitches may unintentionally hinder state environmental enforcement programs. Nancy Stoner, director of EPA's Office of Planning and Policy Analysis, in a memo dated March 26, directed the Agency's regional counsels to monitor pending Y2K legislation that could interfere with state enforcement standards.
More y2k at the CMA site.
Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Business Computer Information Systems Associate Director, Center for Quality & Productivity College of Business Administration, University of North Texas Co-chair, Society for Information Management Year 2000 Working Group Steering Committee, YES Volunteer Corps, International Y2K Cooperation Center Voice: 940-565-4698 Fax: 940-369-7623 Email: kapp@unt.edu Website: http://www.year2000.unt.edu/kappelma/
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From: Jerry Poje
Subject: Y2K and Chemical Safety Report
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999
Greetings,
The CSB has added a Y2K section to its website at http://www.chemsafety.gov/y2k .
On Monday, March 15th, the agency will post its Y2K report to the Special U.S. Senate Committee on the Y2K Technology Problem. The report may be viewed and downloaded from the Y2K section. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Best wishes,
Jerry
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From: Jerry Poje
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1999
The testimony from all witnesses at the Senate field hearing on chemical safety and the Year 2000 technology is available at the following website: http://www.senate.gov/~y2k/hearings/051099/index.html
Note that the Senate Committee will accept additional comments for the record over the next week or so.
Jerry Poje, Ph.D.,
Board Member
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
2175 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20037-1809
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