SOCMA’s ChemStewards® Program

ChemStewards® is SOCMA’s environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) performance improvement program. ChemStewards® promotes improving the performance of employee safety, employee and community health, lowering a facility’s environmental footprint and continuously increasing the security of the facility and throughout the supply chain. It is a rigorous, yet innovative program established in 2005 to cater the unique needs of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry.

Implementing the program builds customer confidence, community trust and strengthens product stewardship throughout the supply chain. Participants receive:

• Comprehensive ChemStewards Implementation Guidance
• User-friendly manuals
• Online education and assistance
• Opportunities to participate in regional meetings
• Site visits
• Peer-to-peer consultations

CORE PRINCIPLES

The first step in implementing the ChemStewards® program is to under- stand and agree to the Core Principles. The top company executive must agree to and sign a statement committing to and implementing these principles. They are:

• Communicate with and engage employees, business partners and the community to foster a greater understanding of environmental, health, safety and security matters.
• Promote the concepts of product stewardship throughout a product’s lifecycle.
• Make environmental, health, safety and security considerations a priority in the planning and operations for all new and existing products and processes.
• Train employees in their environmental, health, safety and security responsibilities and promote involvement and accountability in these areas.
• Continuously strive to use resources efficiently and minimize waste.

OVERVIEW OF CHEMSTEWARDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CSMS)

The ChemStewards® Management System (CSMS) follows a Plan » Do » Check » Act cycle. It provides adaptability and fit-for-purpose utility that accommodates the size, complexity and diversity individual member operations.

• ChemStewards®  is Adaptable – Its focus can be scaled up or scaled down depending on the size of a facility or company.
• ChemStewards® is Applicable – Its management system-oriented approach is relevant to the greater chemical industry, across busi- ness units’ product lines, and to toll, batch, and continuous process manufacturers.
• ChemStewards® is Accountable – To be ChemStewards® certified, all management systems must be third-party audited by a certified CSMS Auditor.

Download the ChemStewards White Paper for more information

CHEMSTEWARDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FRAMEWORK

ChemStewards is an EHS&S Management System that is totally facility based, providing our members with adaptability and cost control. Each facility is required to determine its site tier level based on risk and follow the requirements of that tier level.

THE PATH TO CHEMSTEWARDS CERTIFICATION

Verification is a three-step process over a three-year audit cycle based on the year the facility became a member of SOCMA.

Year 1: Program Element Verification (PEV) and Security Vulnerable Assessment (SVA)

• A web-based self-evaluation or gap analysis of the various EHS&S elements of your facility
• Perform security vulnerability assessment (SVA), if not tiered under DHS, and implement applicable countermeasures deemed necessary to reduce any risk identified to be acceptable
• One-time event completed in the first year

Year 2: Document Review by ChemStewards® Auditor and Countermeasures of SVA

• A third-party off-site document review of the facility’s management system. ChemStewards uses a checklist format to determine system documentation that creates an easy-to-work-with system.
• Non-conformances [Pass-Conditionally and Fail] are to be addressed within 6 months of the audit

Year 3: On-site Audit for each ChemStewards® Facility and Verification of Countermeasures, if necessary

• ChemStewards®verification is completed by approved and certified 3^rd party auditors, as well as certification by audit certification bodies.
• Certificate issued following completion of on-site verification, good for 3 years.

Annually: Performance Metrics submission

• Performance Improvement Metrics are required annually. The intention of the reporting is to enhance transparency and company accountability. Trending of data provides benchmarking opportunity and drives improvement in performance for member companies. Data is not shared.

** Download the ChemStewards Metrics Guidance Document