Environmental Issues in the Design of Chemical Processes Workshop September 2003

Environmental Issues in the Design of Chemical Processes

WorkshopSeptember 2003

CCPA Responsible Care® Program

Today’s Workshop Focus on the Responsible Care®

program developed by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association

De-emphasize the process hazards issues which are covered as part of our process design assignment

Additional Information on CD and www.ccpa.ca/english/who/rc/content.html


History of RC in the CCPA CCPA members are the chemical (not

petroleum) companies doing business in Canada

Deals with lobbying & self-help issues 1977: Ad hoc group set up to draft a

policy for management of hazards associated with chemicals

1978: Policy approved as recommendations to members


History (cont) 1981: Studied a broader program

(called Responsible Care) developed by Dow Chemical in the US

1984: Bhopal tragedy led to an intensified effort to develop more demanding procedures

1985: Environmental incidents in Canada raised the public profile


History (cont) 1988: Responsible Care program

launched as a requirement for CCPA membership

Since 1988: Adopted in more than 40 countries


The Responsible Care Ethic We are committed to do the right thing

and be seen to do the right thing We are guided towards environmental,

societal, and economic sustainability by the following principles: We are stewards of our products and

services during their life cycles in order to protect people and the environment


Ethic (cont) We are accountable to the public,

who have the right to understand the risks and benefits of what we do and to have their input heard

We respect all people We work together to improve

continuously We work for effective laws and

standards, and will meet or exceed them in letter and spirit


Ethic (cont) We inspire others to commit

themselves to the principles of Responsible care


The Six Codes of Practice Community awareness, emergency

response, and community right-to-know

Research and Development Manufacturing Transportation Distribution Hazardous waste management


Community Awareness and Emergency Response Each site must have a program in

place to work with the community Regular communication concerning

hazards with outreach programs Simulated disaster tests


Research and Development Covers all stages of development

of new processes and products Do R&D work in an

environmentally responsible manner

Identify hazards and communicate them to all those who could be at risk


Manufacturing This is the code most closely

associated with the design process Identify process hazards Have emergency response

programs in place Monitor effluents and emissions Select sites to minimize potential

problems


Manufacturing (cont) Clean up sites when closed Comply with WHMIS and related

legislation


Transportation Evaluate capabilities of carriers by

audits Provide hazard information to carriers

and communities on routes Each area of the country has a CCPA

member assigned to respond to incidents such as spills, regardless of which company produced the material (DuPont handles our area)


Distribution A company cannot simply hand over

responsibility for chemicals once they are handed over to a distributor or customer

Distributors must be monitored for safe storage and handling procedures

Customers will not be sold material if they are not prepared to meet minimum standards of Responsible care


Hazardous Waste The storage, handling and disposal of

hazardous waste (including when in the hands of waste disposal contractors or customers) must be done in a responsible manner

Includes waste generated by the use of the product

Programs to reduce, recycle, recover, reuse material are expected


Implications on Our Methanol Process What environmental issues do we

need to address at various stages of the project we are working on?

Use the list of Responsible Care codes to organize your thoughts


Assumptions The project goes to completion and

the plant goes into operation The plant is built on an existing

site The site has existing Responsible

Care programs, but the content of these programs may have to change

Documents

Environmental Issues in the Design of Chemical Processes Workshop September 2003