Township of Bloomfield, NJ Article I Administration and Enforcement

§ 296-1 Enforcement; inspections; definitions; reports.

A. This chapter is hereby established to effectively control hazardous chemicals. This chapter shall be enforced by the Fire Official of the Fire Prevention Bureau, known in this chapter as "Fire Official."

B. The Fire Official shall inspect, at least once each year, all facilities manufacturing, processing, handling, using or storing hazardous chemicals within the Township. The Fire Official shall also make such additional inspections as are reasonably necessary to obtain compliance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of this chapter, "hazardous chemicals" shall mean those materials, defined as such in the State Uniform Fire Code and NJIFC, 2015 Edition, as adopted by the Township of Bloomfield, hereafter referred to as the "Fire Prevention Code" and including liquefied petroleum gas, explosive dust, flammable and combustible liquids Classes I, II and IIIA and organic coatings.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

C. The Fire Official and/or Township inspectors shall also inspect all other commercial and industrial plants and warehouses at least once each year to determine whether they require a permit under § 296-3 hereof and to determine the contents of the effluents being discharged into the Bloomfield sanitary and storm sewer systems. Containers with inadequate labels shall be sampled and analyzed at the expense of the owner or tenant of the premises where that container is located.

D. After each inspection under this chapter, a written report is to be submitted by each inspector to the Fire Official, which report shall include, but not be limited to, any violations discovered and actions taken concerning same. The Fire Official shall submit a quarterly written report. This report shall be available to the public.

E. The Fire Official shall have the power, where there is or appears to be imminent hazard affecting the life or safety of the public or property involving hazardous chemicals, to declare an emergency; they shall have the power to order the suspension of the hazardous chemical operation. The method of suspension shall pose no threat to the public and shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Official. The suspension period shall be only as long as the emergency exists.

F. Definitions of special terms used in this chapter shall be defined by reference to Chapter 239, Fire Prevention and Protection.

§ 296-2 Duties of owners and lessees of applicable property.

Each owner and/or lessee, which shall include individuals, partnerships and/or corporations, who own or lease property and/or structures wherein and whereon hazardous chemicals are manufactured, processed, handled, used or stored in any manner, shall:

A. Have a permit as required under § 296-3 and show it, upon request, to Township officials.

B. Once a year provide the Fire Official with a safety control chemical data sheet, described in Schedule I[1] herein. Submission to the Fire Official of a material safety data sheet in the form provided by the United States Department of Labor (Form LSBOOS-4) shall be an acceptable alternative. In using either sheet, materials having similar properties may be grouped on one sheet.

[1] Editor's Note: Schedule I is included as an attachment to this chapter.

C. Once a year provide the Fire Official with a floor plan or plot plan of its property, indicating the location of hazardous chemical storage areas in the manner described in Schedule II[2] herein and including the location of all stationary liquid containers and container storage areas containing a significant quantity of hazardous chemicals on the premises, with the addition of waste disposal data required by Schedule I.

[2] Editor's Note: Schedule II can be found in the office of the Fire Official of the Fire Prevention Bureau.