The objectives of the handbook are: 1) Provide information to the concerned members of the community on the hazards involved in industrial operations in its neighbourhood, and the measures taken to reduce these risks, 2) Review, update, or establish emergency response plans in the local area, 3) Increase local industry involvement in community awareness and emergency response planning, 4) Integrate industry emergency plans with local emergency response plans into one overall plan for the community to handle all types of emergencies, and 5) Involve members of the local community in the development, testing and implementation of the overall emergency response plan.

APELL is designed to assist decision-makers and technical personnel in improving community awareness of hazardous installations, and in preparing response plans should unexpected events at these installations endanger life, property or the environment.

This handbook provides guidelines for assessment and preparedness for industrial risks, but the methodology is adaptable to general disaster risks.