Simulation for emergency management: Taking advantage of automation in emergency preparedness

Abstract

Industrial facilities operate in an en vironment of increased public awareness of hazards, and added regulatory demands. Public awareness and new regulations result from concerns over the effec tiveness o f safety systems and the consequences of their failure. Increasingly the public, government regulators, insurers, and stockhold ers require evidence that a facility can be operated safely and that accidents can be managed effec tively. Recent federal environ mental and occupational safety regulations reflect the increasing attention. This requirement may be addressed by proposing a cost- effective approach, which applies simulation techniques in three phases to take advantage of advances in emergency prepared ness automation. The approach will both train and provide some means of validating those persons responsible for effectively managing emergencies when they occur.