Monday, June 7, 2010

Operating outside the law for environmental compliance can have repercussions far beyond the environmental staff at your facility.  Plant managers and business executives are being held accountable for the legal compliance within their realm of control.  Gain some insights by talking with three attorneys, representing different perspectives: the Texas Chemical Council, industry, and a private practice attorney who has worked in both the enforcement and industrial sectors.  Important information regarding management's exposure will be shared.

Most companies today are striving to operate in full compliance with regulatory requirements. However, many organizations find themselves in fire-fighting mode, reacting to compliance demands with the fires being continually fueled by budget constraints, reduced staff, and fast-paced change. Learn how to close compliance gaps and put systematic approaches and tools in place that provide a platform for lasting compliance, even amid the rapid changes industry faces. Achieving such a state of compliance assurance improves resource management, increases operating efficiency, and protects the value of the brand.

When the Texas Legislature reconvenes in January 2011, it will face its most challenging session in recent memory as it grapples with a $12-$17 billion budget deficit, a partisan battle over redistricting, and “sunset review” of major state regulatory agencies such as the Railroad Commission and TCEQ. The Legislature will also decide how to respond to demands for heightened environmental regulation, which are coming from both federal government officials and Texas-based environmental advocates. Get a preview of the November 2010 elections, the expected political dynamics in the Texas House and Senate, and the major agenda items facing the Legislature. Special attention will be focused on the specific issues that will face the chemical industry during the legislative session.

Through the American Chemistry Council Responsible Care program, chemical manufacturers and their supply chain partners are achieving significant improvement in EHS&S performance and delivering substantial bottom line cost improvements to each of their companies.

Sustainability is often depicted as a three-legged stool, with the supporting legs being: 1) Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Performance, 2) Social Responsibility and 3) Economic Performance. Few industries can match the degree to which chemical truckers intertwine the environmental, health and safety aspects of their business. Even fewer compare when it comes to the profound effect EHS performance has on economic performance. Trimac Transportation focuses on all three legs of the stool as it hauls bulk materials including Chemicals, Industrial Gasses, Dry Bulk and Petroleum Products.

Trimac Transportation uses a management system approach to maintain and continually improve its award-winning Safety Program. In this presentation, learn from our experience with some elements of this management system, including our Predictive Modeling Program, our thorough and consistent Driver Orientation and Training Program, self-assessments for our Model Branch Initiative, and audits of our EHS and Security policies, procedures and improvement plans. Some of these audits led to Trimac’s certification to the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Management System® standard.

Trimac knows that in chemical trucking, a healthy work force is a safer work force, and our Preferred Place to Work Initiative focuses on helping all employees stay on top of their game – healthy and alert. Recently, this initiative emphasized sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment. And while preventing accidents and incidents undoubtedly has a positive impact on the environment, learn about Trimac’s “Green” initiatives, including programs to minimize fuel consumption. These efforts not only contribute to Trimac’s economic performance, but improve air quality, as recognized by our certification in U S EPA’s Smartway Transport Partnership Program.

While this presentation focuses on the EHS management experience of a chemical trucker, manufacturers and other support organizations may also find something helpful in this presentation.