ACC Honors Companies for Environment, Health, and Safety Performance

Three member companies of the American Chemical Society (ACC) received the organization’s Responsible Care Company of the Year award for achievements and leadership in environmental, health, safety, and security activities in their businesses, the organization announced Tuesday.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, SABIC, and Ethyl Corporation were the recipients of this year’s awards.  

“Responsible Care is our industry’s commitment to doing more and continually doing btter,” said Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the ACC in a statement. “Chevron Phillips Chemical, SABIC, and Ethyl Corporation each embody what it means to be a Responsible Care company. They are leaders in environment, health, safety, and security performance, as well as product stewardship.”

To meet the criteria of the award, companies have to show that they have a documented injury rating in the top 10% of companies of comparable size; demonstrate positive performance trends in process safety, transportation safety, and reduction of emissions; the availability of product stewardship information to the public; and timely completion of required performance metrics reporting.

In 2014, Chevron Phillips initiated a set of company-wide “Life Saving Rules,” which provided clear safety instructions to employees that bolstered the company’s existing safety practices.

“Since our company’s inception, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to operate a business that adds value and is sustainable for all stakeholders,” said Chevron Phillips’s president and CEO Peter Cella in the statement. “We believe the keys to success in Responsible Care can be found in the 9,000 men and women who walk through our gates every day, guided by three simple philosophies – work safely or not at all, there is always time to do it right, and, if it’s worth doing, do it better.”

SABIC created its Process Hazard Analysis to help manage hazard communication and internal risk-assessment procedures, used to identify and correct safety issues. Under the company’s program, SABIC saw 60% improvement from 2014 to 2015 in its “Days Away From Work” safety rate.

“This award is recognition for SABIC, that EHS&S is more than just a priority – it’s a core value, a deeply held belief that is driving actions and behaviors of our employees,” said SABIC Vice President Mike Walsh. “Embracing the Responsible Care ethic has driven SABIC to adopt a sustainable mindset into all of our activities. By striving for a sustainable future, we have made improvements in our use of energy, water and raw materials to protect the global environment.”

Ethyl’s plant in Houston established two teams in 2014 to develop energy efficiency projects geared toward reducing the facility’s overall energy consumption. The company said that it has reduced kw hours used per production at its Houston location by 43% in the past decade. In terms of safety, the Houston plant had recordable injuries from 2013 to 2015.

“Responsible Care fits very well with our own core values – unquestioned integrity, respect for our people, respect for the community, respect for the environment and the highest standards for worker health and safety,” said Ethyl Corporation President John Street. “Congratulations go to everyone at Ethyl Corporation. And we will continue to improve, because what is excellent today, will become normal tomorrow.”

The ACC said that since its Responsible Care performance initiative was established in 1988, companies recognized by the organization have worker safety records that are “five times better” compared with the American manufacturing industry as a whole.

“Responsible Care companies reduced hazardous releases to the air, land and water by 77 percent, improved energy efficiency overall,” the ACC’s release said.