CHEMICAL SAFETY VERSUS TERRORISM Pavel CASTULIK CBRNE Consultant [email protected]; [email protected] Prepared for Seminar on the OPCW`s Contribution to Security and Non-proliferation of Chemical Weapons Civilians are the most vulnerable victims WWI Phosgene experience Guidance for Chemical Terrorism Phosgene is still there, however, there is no antidote available BHOPAL MEMENTO Chemical leak of methyl isocyanide 7 Scene of Casualties EURATOX 2002 courtesy Dr. A. Ziegler Terrorism The term terrorism was first used to describe the post-revolutionary French "reign of terror" of 1793 to 1794 The term is now applied also to CBRNE releases and other actions that violate international law, and which seek to intimidate, demoralize, or subjugate a population for political, religious, or ideological purposes Terrorism targets High-risk targets for acts of terrorism include military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large cities, and high- profile landmarks Terrorists might also target large public gatherings, water and food supplies, utilities, and corporate centers Further, terrorists are capable of spreading fear by sending explosives or chemical, biological and radiological agents through the mail Potential methods used by terrorists Contamination of reservoirs Dispersal in bombs or and urban water supply projectiles systems Miscellaneous direct methods: Contamination of food, hand sprayers, water guns, beverages, drugs, or parcels cosmetics in manufacturing, Release of industrial/agricultural distribution processes and chemicals via attacks on near the point of consumption production or storage facilities Miscellaneous product Release of industrial/agricultural contaminations: chemicals via attacks on truck, stamps/envelopes, IV fluids, rail, or barge shipping etc. Miscellaneous releases of Release of gases or aerosols industrial/agricultural chemicals, into building HVAC systems especially anhydrous ammonia, Release of gases or aerosols fumigants and pesticides, and from aircraft and unmanned disinfectant gases (e.g., vehicles chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ethylene oxide) Criteria for determining terrorist priority chemical agents Chemical agents already known to be used as weaponry Availability of chemical agents to potential terrorists Chemical agents likely to cause major morbidity or mortality Potential of agents for causing public panic and social disruption, and Agents that require special action for public health preparedness Categories of chemicals include CW Agents Flammable industrial Pulmonary agents gases and liquids phosgene Gasoline chlorine Propane vinyl chloride Explosive nitro Volatile toxins compounds and benzene oxidizers chloroform ammonium nitrate combined with fuel oil trihalomethanes Categories of chemicals include cont. Psychochemical agents Corrosive industrial acids and bases, Pesticides Nitric acid, Persistent, and Sulfuric acid Non-persistent Fluoride acid Caustic soda Rodenticides Sodium fluoracetate Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine Dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Poison industrial gases, liquids, and solids, Heavy metals and compounds Cyanides, Arsenic Nitriles Barium Lead Mercury Thallium Chemical Facility-Security and Safety Concerns • Chemical manufacturers • Chemical processors • Ports and terminals • Storage • Transportation facilities • Corporate headquarters • Warehouses, etc. Chemical Sector vs Other Sectors The Chemical Sector covering: Transportation Systems Energy Basic chemicals Water Specialty chemicals Dams Petrochemicals Agriculture & Food Agricultural chemicals Emergency Services Healthcare and Public Health Pharmaceuticals Postal & Shipping Consumer products Information Technology is dependent on, depended on by, Communications and overlaps with a wide range Banking & Finance of other sectors, including: Governmental Facilities Commercial Facilities Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Processing-Storage-Transport of Chemicals Vulnerability of chemical facilities When we look at all of the different targets for a potential attack around us and ask ourselves which target present the greatest possibility of mass casualties and are the least well-secured at the present time - „these are chemical facilities“ The government needs more authority and collaboration with chemical facilities owners to reduce the vulnerability of chemical plants to a terrorist attack or sabotage High-risk chemical facilities Chemical manufacturing, Energy and utilities storage and distribution Mining Agriculture and food Electronics Paints and coatings Public Water Systems Explosives (chlorine) Plastics Refrigeration industry Healthcare (ammonia) Nuclear industry Sport facilities (ice skating-ammonia) Chemical Industry Material source for chemical terrorism A reasonably open society with a well-developed chemical industry provides many vulnerabilities that might be exploited by skilled, committed, and adequately-funded makers of improvised chemical weapons Safety and security of chemical facilities is still lagging behind nuclear installations Key Shortages in Effective Chemical Security Planning • Most chemical-related firms have • Most firms do not have dedicated comprehensive emergency security managers typically the planning and response processes security function is managed by • However, those processes someone who: typically don't consider or allow • wears "many hats," which may for security-related include emergencies and crises • EHS • Safety • The most chemical firms have • Human Resources done much to screen and manage their own employees • Facilities Management/Maintenance, • While relatively little has been • Engineering, etc. done concerning contractors and non-company drivers who may have equal levels of access and exposure Chemical Facility Safety & Security Course of Action Gaps in chemical Chemical security facility's safety & vulnerability assessments security is an invitation Development chemical for terrorism to attack security plans for chemical facilities chemical facilities and/or gain chemical Build up capabilities and products for intentional capacities for chemical facilities safety and use during terrorist security events Chemical facilities as source chemical terrorism Release-Fire-Explosion -Toxic, flammable, or explosive chemicals or materials that, if released from a facility, have the potential for significant adverse consequences for human life or health Theft or Diversion - Chemicals or materials that, if stolen or diverted, have the potential to be misused as weapons or easily converted into weapons using simple chemistry, equipment or techniques, in order to create significant adverse consequences for human life or health Sabotage or Contamination - Chemicals or materials that, if mixed with readily available materials, have the potential to create significant adverse consequences for human life or health Cyber attack at chemical facility 1. Defeat the perimeter fence 2. Gain access to the control cabinet 3. Install a wireless “man in the middle” device Use the wireless device to damage the information network Physical Damage (offset by Safety Shutdown Systems) Economic Damage I. Historical Data II. Accounting Information III. Tuning and other instrument information Counter-terrorism considerations In addition to counter- Sabotage terrorism considerations, Arson chemical security assessments should Theft and pilferage consider all sorts of Hijacking security-related harm that Vandalism could occur including: Trespassing Workplace violence Activist disruption Contamination Cyber attack, etc. Lower chemical facility's risk To assess vulnerability and Reducing the amount of have plans to reduce hazards hazardous substances Two factors that must be Using less hazardous considered: materials The ease of access to the site To switch chemical facilities to and are security measures inherently less dangerous adequate? processes where feasible and To place each plant in a ''risk Simplifying plant design and tier" based on the kinds and procedures amounts of chemicals it has and its proximity to dense populations Key Concepts of Effective Chemical Security Planning • An effective chemical security The team-based chemical program should complement plant security vulnerability existing programs and assessment processes: Positive security awareness by • including safety and safety employees is the most awareness powerful, cost effective and • environmental management frequently neglected of all • hiring and screening security countermeasures procedures Modification of comprehensive • emergency and crisis planning emergency planning and and response response processes • shipping and receiving, etc. Risk Based Performance Standards Restrict area perimeter and Cyber access Training Physical Security Around Personnel surety Control of Vehicles Around Elevated threats Inspection of Vehicles Around Response Background checks on personnel Monitoring with access to materials or the Specific threats, vulnerabilities, or systems that control them risks Shipping, receipt, and storage Reporting of significant security Secure site assets incidents Screen and control access Significant security incidents and Deter, detect, delay suspicious activities Theft and diversion Officials and organization Sabotage Records Chemical plant security include Perform chemical and refinery Develop emergency and crisis security and vulnerability