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Policy statement
Elementis is committed to
managing all its activities, throughout the world, so as to provide a
high level of protection to the environment and to the health and safety
of its employees, customers and neighbours. Elementis complies with legal
requirements and codes of practice in the countries where it operates
as a minimum and supports the principles of the global chemical industry’s
Responsible Care programme.
Relevant information about the
activities which affect health, safety and the environment are made available
to employees, customers, the public, regulatory bodies and other interested
parties in an understandable form.
Appropriate policies and systems
to manage health, safety and the environment are in operation in all businesses;
they are formally reviewed on a regular basis.
Achievement of goals and continuous
improvement in health, safety and environmental standards are key measures
of performance within Elementis. Employees receive training to ensure
their understanding of, and competence in, all relevant health, safety
and environmental matters and gain their commitment to the effective implementation
of this policy.
What are our objectives?
- To strive for continuous improvement in health, safety and environmental
performance in all aspects of our operations
- To maintain formal health, safety and environmental management systems
capable of external verification
- To minimise the impact of the actions of Elementis on the environment
by promoting sustainable development, seeking continual improvement
and employment of best practice
- To promote responsible use and after use disposal of products through
product stewardship programmes with customers
- To respect our neighbours and ensure that our operations have no discernable
impact on the quality of life in the local community
- To continue to emphasise health, safety and environmental performance
in the workplace through focusing on human behaviour and risk awareness
- To rigorously analyse the cause of incidents and implement effective
corrective actions
How do we provide leadership
of health, safety and the environment?
Lyndon Cole, Group Chief Executive, has Board level responsibility for
health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues. At operational level, HSE
policy is implemented by business managing directors through HSE managers.
Additionally, leadership on HSE matters is provided by the Group Vice
President of Global Manufacturing.
How are we doing?
HSE reporting
Elementis achieved a further improvement in safety performance as lost
time accident frequency reduced by 2 per cent year on year to 0.5, the
sixth successive year of improvement.
Disappointingly, non-compliance with environmental consents rose by
two to 19 during the year, although these were all localised incidents.
A new incident investigation reporting system was piloted at Elementis
Specialties at Belleville, New Jersey, US and, since the year end, at
Elementis Chromium at Eaglescliffe, UK. This provides a more detailed
analysis of the causes of reportable incidents and ‘near misses’ and will
be rolled out to other locations during the first half of 2001.
Sustainable development
Elementis is working towards making more efficient use of resources, including
energy. A range of activities is being undertaken at operational level
to support this.
During the year, Elementis Specialties in Livingston, Scotland developed
two schemes to re-use clay waste products; hectorite clay waste is a useful
source of potash and lime and is now used to assist in remediation of
agricultural land and bentonite clay waste is used to provide impermeable
lining for landfill sites.
At Linatex, a new continuous rubber plant in Malaysia was commissioned
which eliminates all effluent associated with the old production process.
Elementis Chromium at Eaglescliffe is undertaking research programmes
addressing waste minimisation and practical end uses for residue.
Product stewardship
Elementis undertakes life cycle analysis, risk management assessment and
waste disposal for certain products and customers and works with relevant
industry associations to share expertise and best practice.
Elementis Chromium places particular emphasis on its programme of product
stewardship to ensure best handling of chromium chemicals.
Employee involvement
Elementis Chromium at Eaglescliffe, UK received the Institute of Environmental
Health’s Green Apple Award for environmental work by volunteers at its
Ecology Site for the third consecutive year. During the year over 2000
local school children and other groups visited the site.
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