Around the world, we transport and store numerous products and materials. These include commercial chemicals and pharmaceuticals, raw materials, intermediates, and waste as well as technical materials and packaging, all of which could pose a hazard to health and the environment if handled incorrectly.
Our approach to safe transport and storage
All our shipments are to reach our customers and sites safely, undamaged and with the required safety information. Several of the materials we store and transport are classified as hazardous. The storage of such dangerous goods and the transport thereof – whether by road, rail, plane, or ship – are governed by regulations applicable worldwide. To minimize risks to people and the environment, we apply strict safety requirements across the Group that of course also comply with all applicable laws. We conduct regular reviews to ensure that our own warehouses as well as those of third parties comply with these regulations. In addition, we train our employees on warehouse and transport safety requirements.
Enhancing transport and warehouse safety
In addition to the inspections conducted by our EHS and dangerous goods managers, we regularly perform internal risk-based Group audits to ensure that our sites comply with warehouse and transport safety regulations. We generally conduct these audits every four years, performing them more frequently at sites that pose a potentially higher risk. If major shortcomings are identified, we re-audit the respective site the following year. Conversely, we may decide to extend the period between audits at facilities where, based on the findings from previous audits, we deem the potential risk to be low. Using a standardized checklist, our EHS managers verify whether contract warehouses meet our requirements. This inventory also helps us assess risks before entering into a business relationship with a third-party warehouse.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unable to perform all the audits we had planned for 2020. We audited two of our warehouse facilities to verify their compliance with Group-wide standards and also audited one contract warehouse.
We report transportation incidents and accidents in accordance with the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations (7.1.9) in conjunction with the criteria of the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR, 1.8.5.). There was no reportable incident during 2020.
Employee training and best-practice sharing
In line with their specific tasks and responsibilities, our employees undergo regular training that is conducted by either their respective supervisor or our EHS and dangerous goods managers. Topics include internal standards and procedures, changes to international requirements, and proper incident management.
Across the globe, we conduct around 1,000 internal and external seminars on transport and warehouse safety every year. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only 60% of our seminars could took place. Many of these were rescheduled as webinars. The e-learning program we developed for hazardous material transport and storage is compulsory for logistics, EHS and dangerous goods managers. It features ten courses that we assign to the participants to complete.
Our dangerous goods managers hold regular conference calls to share their experiences and discuss current changes. All new EHS managers must complete EHStart-up!, a three-day onboarding seminar on environmental stewardship, safety and safe logistics. In 2020, we held this training online program through a series of webinars.
Ensuring proper transport
We primarily use logistics companies to deliver our products to customers. In Germany, we transport the majority of our hazardous waste ourselves. Furthermore, we participate in the German Transport Accident Reporting and Emergency Response System (TUIS) operated by the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI). Within this system, we share chemical transport expertise and best practices with experts from other chemical companies and also render hands-on assistance in the event of a chemical transportation accident. Our site fire departments in Darmstadt and Gernsheim collaborate closely with the fire departments in the region and provide specialized equipment to help in emergency situations.