NACD places the highest priority on the health, safety, and security of employees, communities, and the environment. For our members, this means complying with all relevant regulations and legislation, and adhering to the tenets and meeting the requirements of NACD Responsible Distribution®, a mandatory third-party verified management system that lets members demonstrate their commitment to continuous performance improvement in every phase of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal.
Whether providing Responsible Distribution resources, making sure members are up-to-date on regulations or advocating for sensible laws, and regulations, NACD makes it our mission to help our members move chemicals through the supply chain safely and efficiently. NACD provides another resource — access to strategic business partners and association sponsors who offer cutting-edge tools designed specifically for chemical distribution that help foster successful, safe chemical management.
NACD Affiliate Datacor, Inc., for example, offers chemical management software that keeps employees safe with controls to enforce effective chemical management, so distributors know what they are handling and how to handle them. Dan McCusker, VP of Sales at Datacor, stated that these management tools ensure the three essential questions of chemical management are being answered: Am I allowed to buy this product? Is the company able to transport to it? How do I store this product? For the vetting process, chemical management tools like Datacor’s ensure that all potential suppliers are vetted before a chemical is transported. During transit, the software ensures substances are being shipped according to best management guidelines. The third question of chemical management, storage, is particularly important to ensure that chemicals are safely stored (i.e., in a food-safe area if food-grade or away from any fire hazards if flammable).
By thoughtfully answering all three questions, Dan says distributors can successfully adhere to the principles of responsible chemical stewardship, ensuring the safety of everyone along the chemical supply chain.
Jim Garvic, Director of Business Development at Reliance Label Solutions, also an NACD Affiliate, echoed these sentiments by stressing the importance of good labeling when it comes to chemicals. When distributors fail to follow best practices for chemical labeling, they run the risk of not being accurate and therefore failing to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
He added, “Packaging is the last step but just as critical… Reliance takes pride in helping customers label and package properly.”
Proper labeling also keeps employees safe. With an inaccurate label, employees will not know how to properly handle a chemical, potentially leading to incidents in storage facilities or customers refusing products. NACD and companies like Reliance provide many resources to assist companies with labeling requirements and training for employees. To avoid mistakes, Garvic said, “Take all the training you can get.”
You can learn more about the resources NACD provides to help improve your chemical management by checking out NACD’s new guide, “Five Ways to Improve How You Manage Chemicals.”
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