Policy statement
Elementis conducts its business worldwide with the highest concern for the health and safety of its employees, contractors, customers, neighbours and the general public and for the environment in which it operates.

Elementis seeks to identify and eliminate occupational health hazards, is committed to providing a safe work place for all its employees and strives for zero injuries.

Elementis aspires to best in class performance in all aspects of environmental management. It views compliance with all applicable legal requirements and legal codes of practice as its minimum standard and works pro-actively to reduce emissions and waste from its products and processes.

Elementis supports the chemical industry’s Responsible Care programme and applies these principles in its worldwide operations. Elementis recognises the importance of communications with all interested parties and is committed to informing its employees, contractors, customers, neighbours and the general public promptly of any significant hazards that arise from its operations.

The Board and senior management of Elementis are committed to this policy and continually monitor performance to ensure its implementation.

Health, safety and environment leadership
Geoff Gaywood, Chief Executive, has Board level responsibility for health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues. At operational level, HSE policy is the responsibility of the managing director of each business and is implemented through HSE managers. Leadership on HSE matters is provided by the Director of Manufacturing.

Achievements in 2001
Elementis achieved a significant improvement in safety performance as lost time accident frequency for continuing operations reduced by 53 per cent year on year. This rate is 13 per cent better than the Chemical Industries Association member rate for 2000.

The improved safety performance is mainly due to the implementation of a comprehensive incident investigation reporting system during 2001. The system provides a detailed analysis of reportable incidents and ‘near misses’ and enables processes to be put in place to prevent reoccurrence. Over 800 investigations were carried out in the year, a large number of which were for ‘near miss’ incidents.

Safety milestones passed during 2001
Elementis Chromium’s three US leather tanning operations have each achieved in excess of 10 years’ working without a lost time accident.

Elementis Pigments, Market Harborough, England achieved five years’ working without a lost time accident. Elementis Specialties, Livingston, Scotland achieved the occupational health and safety standard, OHSAS 18001. Elementis Specialties Mine at Newberry Springs, California achieved 10 years’ working without a lost time accident.

Using the strict Elementis definition of environmental incidents, environmental performance in continuing operations deteriorated in 2001 particularly in the first half; 28 incidents occurred compared with 16 in 2000. The incident investigation reporting system has now been implemented for all environmental incidents to identify the root cause and prevent reoccurrence.

Scientific review by regulators in the US resulted in the chrome ore processing residues from the Corpus Christi, Texas facility no longer being included on the Toxic Release Inventory.

HSE guidelines for life critical procedures were implemented throughout Elementis in 2001. These best practice guidelines will enable each Elementis facility worldwide to meet or exceed rigorous standards.

Elementis three day lost time accident frequency for continuing operations*

* three day LTA/100,000 hours worked frequency for continuing operations.