Public Health and Safety
FMC's commitment to public safety permeates virtually everything we do as a company – starting with the design of manufacturing processes and continuing through operational and transportation-related procedures. Our record of protecting the public is bolstered by our strong ties to the communities in which we operate, and an active, transparent communication effort that not only meets but exceeds expectations.
Within our facilities, we work to continuously improve the design of processes that ensure their safety, and we create additional layers of safeguards in processes that pose greater hazards. While building process safety into the design of chemical processes is at the heart of our safety systems, emergency preparedness is the soul of our safety commitment.
Through a defined chain of command and proven communications process, we have demonstrated our prompt, efficient and effective response to emergencies, underscoring our absolute commitment to public health and safety.
As an example of our commitment to public safety and coordination of efforts with local communities, FMC’s Green River plant is a model for success. The plant mines and produces soda ash, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate and caustic soda. When someone calls the plant with either a general question or report of a spill, knowledgeable personnel handle the situation immediately. Emergencies and emergency planning is handled by the Green River Emergency Response Team and the site Fire Brigade. FMC also has two members on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which plans for countywide emergencies. In conjunction with the LEPC, FMC has hosted mock disasters at the plant with all local agencies responding. One such mock disaster simulated an airplane crash at the plant. This type of event took more than six months to plan and involved plant employees as volunteer victims. Communication and knowledge-sharing between FMC and area emergency responders is exceptional.
At FMC’s Agricultural Products plant in Middleport, N.Y., state-of-the-art equipment and controls ensure a high level of protection for employees, neighbors and the environment. FMC manufactures four key product lines used in structural pest control and agriculture. In 2004, the Middleport facility successfully launched a microencapsulation process using FMC’s most complex formulation technology and extended this to a second product in 2007. Annual investments are made to regularly upgrade safety equipment, processes, pollution prevention, and environmental controls.
The Middleport facility also ensures a safe workplace for employees and neighbors by maintaining a professionally trained onsite emergency response team, conducting annual emergency planning drills, serving as an active charter member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and maintaining a strong connection with national chemical safety networks (CHEMTREC).
The principles of Responsible Care at the Middleport facility are evident through its open, mutually respectful relationship with the community, as demonstrated by FMC’s establishment of the Middleport Community Advisory Panel and the Middleport community web site – middleport-ny.com. This site, maintained by FMC, provides information about the community and offers a unique opportunity for FMC to stay in touch with neighbors. This is especially important because of Middleport’s ongoing RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) environmental program, which has resulted in the performance of a number of remedial actions both on- and off-site. These efforts highlight Middleport’s commitment to working with environmental agencies and the community in the process.
The Middleport plant has achieved ISO 9000:2000 certification, which signifies adherence to stringent international standards for quality control throughout all plant operations.
You are invited to view FMC’s complete policy statements on health, safety and the environment which are provided to all employees. Specific training is conducted at all plant sites and facilities on a regular basis to refresh knowledge and upgrade procedures in these important areas.