Cefic Responsible Care Forum

Cefic Responsible Care Forum

Between 10-15% of all fatal accidents at work and 15-20% of all accidents are connected with maintenance, which is one of the most subcontracted functions in industry. This stark statistic was highlighted at the European Responsible Care Forum earlier this year during a presentation on the EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces Campaign on Safe Maintenance.

The meeting focused on two essential areas for the chemical sector: Security, and Safe Maintenance. Representatives from the European Commission, employers and trade unions  highlighted the importance of social dialogue in achieving healthier workplaces. Companies shared best practices and messages reinforced the point that industry needs strong and effective procedures and systems in place, backed by experienced and committed workers, as well as the right mindset, to realise further improvements.

In Europe, security has been integrated into Responsible Care since last year, thanks to concerted efforts by Cefic and its members. Presentations looked at the overall security situation and latest developments at EU level, as well as enhancements to infrastructure security, specifically focusing on the Cefic-backed IMPROVE project to enhance knowledge of critical infrastructure protection and facilitate experience exchange and best practices.

Within industry, security is often a ‘bolt-on’ responsibility for safety managers, but speakers stressed the importance of understanding the differences between these two important functions.  Unlike safety issues, companies are less prepared to share information and best practices on their security initiatives; but certain aspects can be shared as demonstrated through presentations by Dow and DSM. DSM’s Olivier Seghers told delegates that his company’s global security programme – to be in place by 2015 – would ensure that security ‘is not an obstacle for business but an enabling instrument.’

Wider networking and experience sharing also came from the United States where, after the 9/11 attacks and other developments highlighting security issues, chemical companies and the authorities dedicated major resources to address the issues.  Debra Phillips of the American Chemistry Council described the fast-track process that brought about the Responsible Care Security Code and subsequent developments.

Safe maintenance and security prompted many questions from the floor, and the topics were revisited the following day during a BASF plant visit to Antwerp that took in the crisis communications centre and a visit to Antwerp harbour.