Introduction to Responsible Care

Introduction

 Impossible to imagine a life without chemicals. It’s a life without clothes, basic
necessities, food, medicines, transport, communication etc., In short modern day life
can’t be without recourse to use of chemicals.
 Yet, Chemical industry is often in news for all wrong reasons.
Responsible Care.
 It is Voluntary Initiative & Commitment by Chemical Industry Globally for
 Safe, Secure & Sustainable Business of Chemicals
 The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) is global guardian of
Responsible Care.
 Industry commitment to sustainability goals submitted to UNEP. (United Nations
Environment Programme)

Responsible Care Global Charter

 Signed by CEOs of major chemical companies representing 90% of chemical

production worldwide.
1. A Corporate Leadership Culture that proactively supports safe chemicals
management through the global Responsible Care initiative
2. Safeguarding People and the Environment by continuously improving our
environmental, health and safety performance; the security of our facilities,
processes and technologies; and by driving continuous improvement in chemical
product safety and stewardship throughout the supply chain
3. Strengthening Chemicals Management Systems by participating in the development
and implementation of lifecycle-oriented, sound-science and risk-based chemical
safety legislation and best practices
4. Influencing Business Partners to promote the safe management of chemicals within
their own operations
5. Engaging Stakeholders, understanding and responding to their concerns and
expectations for safer operations and products and communicating openly on our
performance and products
6. Contributing to Sustainability through improved performance, expanded economic
opportunities and the development of innovative technologies and other solutions
to societal challenges
Continuously improving our environmental, health and safety performance
Translates into 10 Guiding Principals

1. To recognise and respond to community concerns about chemicals and our

operations.
2. To develop and produce chemicals that can be manufactured, transported, used and
disposed of safely.
3. To make health, safety and environmental considerations a priority in our planning
for all existing and new products and processes.
4. To report promptly to officials, employee, customers and the public, information on
chemical related health hazards and to recommend protective measures.
5. To counsel customers on the safe use, transportation and disposal of chemical
products.
6. To operate our plants and facilities in a manner that protects the environment and
the health and safety of our employees and public
7. To extend knowledge by conducting or supporting research on the health, safety
and environmental effects of our products processes and waste materials.
8. To work with others to resolve problems created by past handling and disposal of
hazardous substances.
9. To participate with government and others in creating responsible laws, regulations
and standards to safeguard the community workplace and environment.
10. To promote the principles and practices of Responsible Care by sharing experiences
and offering assistance to others who produce, handle, use, transport or dispose off
chemicals
CSR Community Connect – The Indian Way
 Addressing the concern of the Community is essential for a “RC” company.
 However, there are impediments to effective dialog with community to address their
concerns.
 There is need to develop a level of trust, which can be achieved by meeting the
needs of community through CSR.
 To establish a healthy relationship between the industry and the community, the
route followed is of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), Adding value to the lives in
the neighbourhood.
 Some examples of CSR programs:
 Enabling to earn
 Improving Health and Hygiene
 Improving quality of Education
 Water & Sanitation Requirements

Responsible Care Implementation

Responsible Care implemented through set of management practices. These are developed
keeping the Indian industry in picture. Unlike in west where only Process Safety and Product
safety is given importance; the Indian guide-book is more detailed. It is organised in following
manner.

• Commitment TOP Management Commitment & Actions

• Safe Production
• Safety of employees
• Environmental Concerns
• Protection of people and environment
• Safe Transportation of Chemicals
• Safe products and sustainability
• Concern for security in view of misuse
Process Safety Code
Employee Health and Safety Code
Pollution Prevention Code
Emergency Response Code
Distribution Code
Product Safety and Stewardship Code
Security Code

TOP Management Commitment & Actions

Responsible Care® is a part of “value base” of the organisation.
1. Commitment by top management through policy formation, planning,
resource allocation, review, continual monitoring and guidance for
Sustainable Safe and Secure operations. It is also expected to address
community concerns about risk.
Commitment through: Written Policy alone is not adequate. It has to cover
aspects like
Communication to all
Addressing community concerns
Fixing Roles and Responsibilities
Planning and Resource Provision
Review and Guidance

Human Resource Development

Considering that Human Resources are of paramount importance, for
achieving excellence.
2. Human resource development through training across the organisation to
all persons to be able to carry out respective duty such as operation,
maintenance, safety, environment management, logistics, R&D,
procurement, marketing and other aspects has to be addressed,
systematically
Training need Identification
Training – Provide Resources
And effective Evaluation
3. Accepting sustainability as a business policy and establishing goals
and responsibility for implementing appropriate business practices
throughout the organization.
Sustainability is cornerstone of Responsible Care®
Consider Aspects like:
Energy conservation
Water Management
Research for Reduce, Replace, Recycle, Reuse
 Consider Environmental Aspects not just as end of line treatment but at Early stage
of product development
4. Harmonisation of relations and actively contributing to the social
and economic upliftment of the community around the site, and
meeting social obligations by focussing on CSR.
Industry can sustain and thrive only as a part of the society
So, importance of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)
5. Clear guideline for sharing of knowledge and best practices without
causing loss of sensitive information
Sharing of Experiences & Best Practices
Together we share to be better and stronger

The following codes of management practices are devised to guide the

management towards achieving objective of Responsible Care

Unlike any other safety system, the Responsible Care being specific to Chemical Industry
lays special emphasis on separate attention to process safety and safety of individuals. The
two aspects are covered in in two different codes.

Process Safety Code

This code covers aspects like:

• Understanding Community Concerns, means of dialog and addressing the

same.
• Developing Process Safety Culture
• Understanding Material Hazards (MSDS), & Process Hazards
• Process Risk evaluation and management
• Plant design, Instrumentation, PHA, HAZOP, LOPA, SIL.
• Design of storages, classification, labeling, isolation, inventory reduction.
• Safe Operating Procedures(SOP) & (Pre-Startup Safety Review) PSSR
• Management of Change - MOC
• Incident Investigation, development of solution and implementation
• Engineering and maintenance practices
• Safe Work Practices, Work Permits
• Laboratory safety.
• Contractor management
• Performance Measurement, Review & Information Sharing

Employee Health & safety Code

We firmly believe that everyone in company is Responsible for achieving safety.
Cooperation of all is expected. This also means developing a culture of safety. This will have
following expectations.
Operating Management:
Lead by example and encouragement
Dialog, Information sharing with people and problem-solving attitude
Discourage unnecessary risk taking
Training and Safety provision of contractor workmen
Ergonomics, lighting, noise mapping
Plant design for maintainability
Preventive maintenance
Incident investigation and follow up actions
Workmen:
Safe Behaviour & Training for Job. Peer pressure for safety
Participate and feedback during safety deliberations
Support in emergency, following assigned roles
Cooperate for medical checks & Advise
Factory Medical Officer:
Evaluate health risks of all materials,
Maintain health records and, advise management on
Exposure evaluation, stoking & management of antidotes.
Help in Selection of PPEs,

Pollution Prevention Code

As already covered in the expectations from Top Management a wholistic approach is expected. End
of pipe attitude prevailing in industry to be slowly replaced by more integrated actions beginning
from the product development stage. However, in a running plant the management has to develop
effective means to minimise the environmental effects. Guidance for operating level is as follows:

• Reduction of wastes and releases giving preference to:

source reduction  to recycle/reuse  Treatment.
 To meet the set parameters as provided in consent and effort to go beyond.
• Periodic evaluation of inventory & to establish reduction priorities
• Prevention and early detection of ground water contamination.
• Addressing past operating and waste management practices
• A program for promotion and support of waste release reduction by others:
• Measurement of progress and setting new goals
• Sharing of knowledge and experience

Emergency Response Code

• Risk assessment qualitative, quantitative

• Written plan for emergency response
• Regular check on emergency requirements like hydrants, PPEs, alarm system
• OHC preparedness including antidotes etc.
• Inform and train employees on the safety and emergency response measures.
• Train personnel to communicate with community.
• Gather information on their concerns and have effective two-way dialog.
 • Mock drills for evaluation and modification of plan based on mock drill inputs.
Conduct with participation of government agencies, journalists, community, doctors
and emergency responders
• Dovetailing of site emergency plan with the district plan.
• Special effort to inform Doctors and hospitals of the probable hazards, antidotes and
emergency measures required.
• Sharing of experiences

Distribution Safety Code

Special attention to distribution required because of 1. This is beyond the plant boundry and
2. There is problem with state of infrastructure available.
Transport
• Design containers, packages to minimise risk in handling & transport.
• Meet requirement of Classification Labeling Packing (CLP)guidelines
• Select route, stoppages, scheduling etc. for safe delivery
• Follow Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) regulations
• Container cleaning, waste disposal without environmental degradation.
• Train transporter and other agencies for safe handling
• Share information with suppliers, distributors, agencies and public on the way and
others who need it
• Investigate incidences develop safer options.
• Be prepared for emergency handling
Warehousing
• Safe handling at warehouses.
• Train warehouse staff
• Ensure adequate safety including PPE provisions
• Facilitate Collection and disposal means to mitigate emergencies
• Warehouse to communicate in case of emergency
• Documentation of all loading and unloading operations at company premises and at
all locations on route.

Nicer Globe, a Responsible Care initiative of Indian Chemical Council

 GPS based Vehicle Tracking
 24x7 Call Centre to support
 Points of interest displays information on interactive map of Fire and Police stations,
Hospitals, Cranes, Chemical Cos, Emergency experts, on computer screen.
 Transport & Distribution Safety
 Chemical Emergency Response
 Transport Security

Product safety and Stewardship Code

• Make health, safety, and environmental impacts – including optimal use of energy
and natural resources – key considerations in designing, developing and improving
products and processes
 • Commitment to Risk reduction through design, hazard communication, continual
improvement and information sharing
• Develop and maintain information on safety, health and environmental hazards, for
product safety management.
• Information exchange along the value chain, commensurate with risk.
• Make product safety and stewardship information publicly available
• Drive continuous performance improvement and implement corrective actions
when needed

Responsible Care Implementation Methodology

 The company CEO signs commitment to Responsible Care
 The company is Provided Guidance by ICC
 There is a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPI), which is submitted by the
Responsible Care company to ICC which is collated at national level and sent to ICCA
by ICC
 The Company Implements Responsible Care,
 Guidance, Training, Hand Holding Where required is provided
 It is verified through a process of assessment by auditors team.
 Audit team ensures commitment by top management and the implementation at
operating level.
 The emphasis is more on practice and field realities.
 Audit team Identifies gaps in implementation and advises on improvements
 Company commits time bound improvement plan.
 Surveillance audit is conducted every three years.

Way Forward
A code to address security concerns is developed and implemented in the US and ICC is in process of
developing a code on the same lines but applicable to Indian conditions. This will aid to enhance
security of chemical business.
Security concerns on misuse of chemicals and information  Security Code
Other Areas
o Lead & Engage in Public policy formation – by proper advocacy
o Make “RC” a part of curriculum at universities
o Work for (SAICM) Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
o Maximise adoption of Responsible Care.
o Training, skill development, assessment.
o Industry best practice sharing

Vipin Doshi,
Adviser, Responsible Care,
Indian Chemical Council