Kay Higby
Responsible Care Superintendent
ISO Management Representative
Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, LLC
Akzo Nobel

Akzo Nobel
– International Company, The Netherlands
– 1000 sites, 75 countries
– 68,400 employees
» Healthcare, coatings, chemicals
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LeMoyne Facility
– Axis, Alabama (North Mobile County)
– 150 employees
Akzo Nobel LeMoyne Facility
First chemical facility in US to received
ISO 14001 registration (3/96)
First joint registration (14001 & 9002)
worldwide
ISO 14000
Environmental Management

ISO 14001 - Basis
– Achieving sound environmental performance
requires organizational commitment to a
systematic approach and continual
improvement of its Environmental Management
System
ISO 14001 Requires:
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Formal review to identify & address any possible
environmental issues
Documented compliance to all corporate policy
Documented compliance to Responsible Care
– First effort to actually insure implementation of
Responsible Care Principles
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Formal Internal audits
Formal independent 3rd party audits of system
Documented management system, focusing on
prevention not reaction
Benefits

Purpose of Environmental Management
System
– To help protect human health and the
environment from the potential impacts of its
activities, products or services;
– To assist in maintaining and improving the
quality of the environment
ISO 14001 Benefits

Management effort to meet provisions of its
policy, objectives, and targets are met
– Understand potential impacts, eliminate per
plan
ISO 14001 Benefits

Emphasis placed on prevention rather than
corrective action
– Always better to prevent, than clean up the
damage later
ISO 14001 Benefits

Evidence of Environmental Care and
Regulatory compliance
– Documented systems demonstrating concern
for reduction of environmental impact
ISO 14001 Benefits

System design incorporates the process of
continual improvement
– Not one time only
Benefits

Single Audit
– Environmental (14001)
– Quality (9002)
– Safety and Health (2000) future
Benefits

Ability to demonstrates due diligence
– Long steady application, persistent effort,
attentive care to Environment
Benefits

Third party verification
– Certified verification companies to insure
systems are in place, documented, and working
LeMoyne System
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ISO 14001 Systems basis:
Existing site systems
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–
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AOP
Environmental Compliance Plan
Process Safety Information
Training Plan
Communications Plan
Emergency Action Plan
LeMoyne System
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Integrated System
– ISO 9002 (Quality)
– ISO 14001 (Environmental)
– Responsible Care
LeMoyne EMS
Environmental Management System

Management Support
– Need for improved environmental management
recognized in late 1980’s
– Desire to eliminate upsets/incident
» Reduced reportable incidents by 89% since 1990
» Reduced routine hazardous waste by 88%
» Reduced TRI emissions by 97% since 1987 (SARA )
LeMoyne EMS
Environmental Management System

Environmental Compliance Plan
– Initially issued in 1992 (?)
– Details the operating permits and procedures
» Primarily developed for operators
– Details the reporting procedures
– Includes SPCC plan
LeMoyne EMS
Environmental Management System
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Process Safety Information
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Detailed operating procedures
Equipment information
Pre-Start Up Safety Review
Management of Change System
Process Hazards Analysis
Contractor Procedure
Visitor Video
LeMoyne EMS
Environmental Management System

Communications Plan
– Matrix
» Originally prepared for telephone
operator/receptionist
» Details who handles various communications, with
back ups
– Site wide communications plan documentation
» employees
» community
» others
LeMoyne ISO System

Aspects Reviews
– Team review each area for potential
environmental impacts/aspects
– Projects developed from concerns
– Majority previously assigned
LeMoyne ISO System
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Management Review
– Same as ISO 9002 Management Review Team
» Site AQP Steering Team
– Meets annually
– Reviews environmental progress
– Reviews environmental concerns
LeMoyne ISO System
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Planning
– Integrated with ISO 9002
– Site AQP (Annual Quality Plan) details
sitewide plan and projects
– Reviews progress
LeMoyne ISO System
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Policy
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Integrated with ISO 9002
Included in AQP
Site Operating Policy
Reviewed with all employees
LeMoyne ISO System
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Training
– Integrated with ISO 9002
– Existing Site Training Plan
Potential Benefits
Assuring customers of commitment to
demonstrate environmental management
 Maintaining good public/community
relations
 Satisfying investor criteria and improving
access to capital
 Obtaining insurance at a reasonable cost

Potential Benefits
Enhancing image and market share
 Meeting vendor certification criteria
 Improving cost control
 Reducing incidents that result in liability
 Demonstrating reasonable care
 Ease in obtaining permits & authorizations
 Improve industry-government relations
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Real Benefits
Improved Environmental Performance
 Community recognition as an
Environmental Leader

– Introduced to CAP with special celebration
» CAP continues to reference Akzo Nobel as
top-of-the line environmental performance
5 Years Later
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All ISO systems are now site systems
– Streamlined, integrated
» not because they are ISO, but because it is the way
we do things
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Regular communication with employees
– Maintain monthly meetings
– Topic in Wednesday meetings
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Performance trend continues