Toronto East CAER

Organizations & Objectives | Resources | Events

MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY

This brochure is designed to let you know what some companies in the Toronto East area are doing to reduce the risks associated with the handling of chemicals used in their operations and to improve their own and the community's preparedness to handle a chemical emergency should one occur.

CAER stands for Community Awareness and Emergency Response. It is an important part of the Responsible Care® initiative of the Canadian Chemical Producers Association (CCPA). The Responsible Care® initiative requires CCPA member companies to take specific steps to reduce the risks to the community, to the environment and to their employees from the products they manufacture, transport or store.

As part of the Responsible Care® initiative, CCPA members in Toronto East have joined with other companies and municipal organizations to form the Toronto East CAER Association.

This brochure explains the CAER program and also offers some advice on how to respond should a chemical emergency occur in your neighbourhood. Please read the brochure and review the contents with your family and neighbours. Keep the brochure in a safe place for future reference.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF AN EMERGENCY

In the unlikely case of a major event at any of the members sites, our employees and you our neighbours could experience considerable health effects. Specific details have been given at the semi annual community meetings. If you want specific details on health effects that could occur from an incident at a particular site, you should contact the site directly by means of the telephone list in this brochure.

THE TORONTO EAST CAER COMMITTEE

The CAER committee, formed in 1986, is a voluntary association with representation from chemical manufacturers, users and government agencies. Participating companies are listed on the back of this brochure.

We work to help members and others with safe practices and with emergency preparedness. There is an official Emergency Plan for Toronto which would be implemented in the event of a real emergency in the Toronto East area.

Member companies hold information meetings annually to tell you about our companies. If you need other information about these companies we encourage you to call the numbers listed.

Membership is open to all companies involved in the handling or storage of chemicals within Toronto East who share in the goals of the Toronto East CAER Committee and who complete a self assessment form outlining their emergency preparedness.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS

On the "CA" or Community Awareness side of CAER, we recognize that past events have heightened people's awareness of chemical risks and have created some concerns. The CAER program is an effort to open communications between those of us handling chemicals and the surrounding communities.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Companies realize the potential hazards of the chemicals they handle and/or produce, and the need to adequately plan for any possible emergency situation, no matter how remote such a possibility. Companies, municipal, and various emergency services in Toronto East have combined their skills and coordinated their individual emergency response plans so that in the event of a chemical emergency, the "first responders" - the people and agencies who handle the situation - are well prepared to respond in an efficient and coordinated manner.

PLANT EMERGENCY RESPONSE SIREN SYSTEM

Our plants are designed and operated to minimize risk but in the event of an emergency, we are able to respond to the situation, both inside and outside the plant. We are committed to developing and training response teams to handle plant emergency situations. CAER Committee members' emergency response plans are regularly revised and updated and have been reviewed by their local Fire Service.

In the unlikely event of any emergency that would affect the residents surrounding the Coronation Industrial area, an early warning siren system has been developed. This siren system can be activated by any of the CAER members in the former West Hill area.

Our siren system, a call from police, or an alert on radio or television will tell you an emergency has been declared. Radio and television stations that regularly broadcast news reports will provide information. Please minimize phone use in an emergency alert situation as these are needed for official business. A battery powered radio helps ensure reception of emergency broadcasts.

The authorities may ask you to evacuate if you are in a danger area. It would be unwise to attempt evacuation without full knowledge of the situation and ensure traffic control. Normally Toronto Police Services will organize evacuation. Knowing what to do in the event of a chemical emergency enables you to help yourself and others.

SHELTER IN PLACE

If the CAER Siren System is activated, by the broken "Whoop, Whoop" sound, we recommend you "Shelter In Place" following these steps:

1. Go inside;
2. Close all windows and doors;
3. Turn off air intake/exhaust mechanisms (fans, furnaces, air conditioning); and
4. Stay tuned to news radio or television stations for information and instructions.

Recommended radio and television stations include CFRB 1010 am, CFTR 680 am, Global, CITY TV and CFTO TV.

If you witness/detect what you believe to be a chemical emergency situation the steps to take are:

1. Move inside your house; and
2. Call 911 and provide the operator with the exact location and nature of the emergency.

HOW WILL I KNOW THE EMERGENCY IS OVER?

If the siren system is used, an all clear monotone sound will be heard and an announcement will be made by municipal officials on your local radio or TV station.

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