Chemical Security

The best defense against deliberate acts, such as terrorism, sabotage, vandalism or theft, is the application of inherent security principles to facility design and operation.

Between March and April 2010, a powerful but seemingly limited computer worm, now referred to as Stuxnet, infected computers around the world, beginning in Iran and spreading to Indonesia and India. A recently published book uncovers findings on the origin of the worm and raises concerns that are relevant to chemical engineers everywhere.

While chemical companies work toward complying with existing standards, legislators are poised to revise those very rules — with changes ranging from minor tweaking to major overhaul on the table.

Debate over the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards continues to revolve around whether manufacturers and processors will be required to incorporate inherently safer technology into their security plans.