Facilities that use chemicals, even in very low volumes, are under particular scrutiny, as their operations are considered especially vulnerable to threats. These threats may come in different forms and from different sources: from outside the facility (trespassing, unauthorized entry, theft, burglary, vandalism, bomb threats, or terrorism); or from inside the facility (theft, substance abuse, sabotage, disgruntled employee or contractor, and workplace violence).
Because of the increased threat, chemical facilities need to focus on terrorist or criminal actions that could have significant national impact (e.g., through the loss of chemicals vital to the national defense or economy) or cause releases of hazardous chemicals that would compromise the integrity of the facility, cause serious injuries or fatalities among facility employees, contaminate adjoining areas, or cause injuries or fatalities among adjoining populations.
For many facilities, compliance with existing regulations led to changes in operations that reduced risk and increased security. Facilities have been able to identify and reduce the chemicals of greatest concern at their facilities. For companies not previously affected by security-related regulations, existing regulations and guidance provide a solid starting point for evaluating processes and implementing changes to improve security.