Appendix C - Hazardous Facility Screening Procedure Appendix C Hazardous Facility Screening Procedure Introduction The Hazardous Facility Screening Procedure (HFSP) is to be applied to all proposed facilities and activities using or storing hazardous substances. The purpose of the HFSP is to determine the level of risk posed by the presence of hazardous substances. The level of risk will establish the status of the activity relative to rules in the Plan. Hazardous facilities can range from home occupations to large chemical processing factories. Common examples of hazardous substances are acids, solvents, paints, fuels, and pesticides. The HFSP is derived from Land Use Planning for Hazardous Facilities, 1995. Overview and Terminology The HFSP establishes a base Threshold for each hazardous substance. The Base Threshold is dependent on the intrinsic properties of the substance but can be modified by an Adjustment Factor. The Adjustment Factor relates to the physical state of the substance, type of storage and activity, site layout, and the environmental sensitivity of the site and location. The multiplication of the Base Threshold with the Adjustment Factor generates an Adjusted Threshold for any effect. Next, the calculation of the Effects Ratio represents the quantity of substance relative to the Adjusted Threshold. The Effects Ratio forms the basis for determining the Plan status of a particular facility or activity. The HFSP is illustrated in Figure C1: HFSP Conceptual Overview Effects Groups The types of effects from hazardous substances are put into three different Effect Groups, being: Fire/Explosive Effect Group: concerned with damage to property and the built environment, and danger to people Health Effect Group: concerned with reduction of the well-being, and health and safety of the community and people Ecosystem Effect Group: concerned with adverse effects on ecosystems and natural resources Each of the Effect Groups is divided into levels of effect. The Fire/Explosive Effect Group is divided into three levels: high, medium and low. The Health, and Ecosystem Effect Groups are divided into four levels: extreme, high, medium, and low. The division into high, medium and low is based on the United Nations (UN) Hazardous Substances Classification System*. The extreme level is added to deal with substances recognised as very hazardous. The UN system divides classes of effects into divisions. Table C1: Classification of Hazardous Substances, shows how the UN Classes and Divisions are allocated Effect Groups and levels. * United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods 8th Edition 1993, New York. App C - 1