RESPONSIBLE CARE

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COMMUNITY AWARENESS & EMERGENCY RESPONSE CODE

Daniel Roczniak Senior Director, Responsible Care American Chemistry Council June 2010

CAER Code Presentation Topics

• • • • • Background – Why Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CAER) Code?

– Public concerns addressed by the code.

Key Focus areas of the Code Link to other Codes Benefits of implementing the CAER Code Questions and Answers

CAER Code Why a CAER Code?

• • • Bhopal (1984) and several incidents in the US in 1985 revealed an “awareness” gap: – Local residents had no knowledge of plant operations and emergency procedures.

– Emergency responders and plant officials had little contact or coordination of plans.

Fear of the unknown was threatening the industry’s license to operate.

US federal and state government was stepping in to fill the gap.

CAER Code Public Concerns Addressed

• • • • • Communications and dialogue between management and workers around environment, health, safety and security issues.

Communications and dialogue between communities (and other stakeholders) around environment, health, safety and security.

Formalize emergency response planning and training.

Coordinate emergency response plans with local authorities.

Foster openness and sharing of information.

CAER Code Key Elements – Employee Communications

• Five elements focus on dialogue with employees

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– Process to assess concerns about the facility.

– Communications training for key personnel – – Educate about emergency plans and EHS programs.

Involve employees in outreach activities.

– Evaluate effectiveness of employee communications process.

CAER Code Key Elements – Public Communication

• • Five elements focus on dialogue with the public. – Process to assess concerns about the facility.

– Educate stakeholders about emergency plans and risks associated with the facility.

– Dialogue process to address issues of interest.

– Process which allows interested persons to become familiar with the facility and its operations and products.

– Evaluate effectiveness of public communications process.

“Community” has evolved to “public” during the past twenty years and today’s stakeholders have broader interests and are less local.

CAER Code Key Elements – Emergency Response

• Nine elements focus on coordinating with authorities.

– Ongoing assessment of potential risks – Maintain a current, written emergency response plan – Ongoing emergency response training for employees – Conduct emergency exercises – Communicate relevant information to local authorities – Facility tours for emergency responders – Coordinate site plans with community plans – Participate in local emergency response planning activities – Share information and experiences with other local facilities

CAER Code Links to Other Codes Public and Employees Process Safety • Risk Assessment • Incident Information • MOC Pollution Prevention • Emissions Data • Reduction Plans Employee Health and Safety • Incident/Accident Results • Training Results CAER • • • Distribution Transport routes Transport schedules Product Stewardship Product Information Security • Threats Identified • Coordination w/local authorities

CAER Code Company Implementation Examples

• • • • • • • • • Establishment of Community Advisory Panels (CAPs).

Establishment of international advisory groups.

Plant management interacting with civic groups.

Plant “open houses.” Adopt-a-school programs.

Community hazardous waste collection programs.

Employee advisory bodies.

Facility personnel taking the lead in organizing and/or funding local emergency response programs.

Transportation route emergency planning (TransCAER).

CAER Code Benefits

• • • • • • • Improved management-employee relations.

Employees willing to be “ambassadors.” Improved relations with local communities.

Goodwill “in the bank” for future withdrawals.

Local dialogue experiences influenced companies’ willingness to engage the larger public.

Improved local Emergency Response coordination.

Industry went from “inward-looking” to “outward looking” mindset.

CAER Code The Changing Discussion Thread

2010 “I read on the Internet about this product you make. Is it safe?” 2001 “Tell us about security at the plant.” 2000 “We would like to see the facility hiring more local people and using local vendors.

1997 “I participated as a public representative on a peer review of the facility. You train so much. When do you ever have time to make your product?” 1992 “We are very impressed with your reductions in emissions and process incidents.

Tell us about the risks from the transport of your products through our town.” 1988 “ Your facility is killing us. You need to shut down.”