increase production efficiencies and effluent recycling. I
The Recordable Injury Incident Rate due to exposure
am pleased to report that water efficiency is improving
to chemicals had declined since 2013, when segregation
from year to year.
between
'This aggregate report of performance of signatories
•
DIGIMAG
and
material-unrelated
recordable injuries was first reported.
to the RC is a valuable tool to identify where challenges
Of the reporting signatories, 71.8% had no handling
are presenting themselves and potentially even how
incidents during 2014. This result, reported for the first
they may be addressed. Through further analysis, CAIA
time this year, provides an excellent base on which to
will be determining where members require support
improve in the years to come, said the report.
and, facilitated by the initiative, how the transfer of
There had been selective incorporation of aspects of
knowledge and experiences can lead to the sharing
the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and
of how successes have been achieved in areas of
Labelling of Chemicals into SA legislation. At each point of
safety, health and environmental performance. Annual
the chemical value chain, there was a responsibility to
performance reporting remains imperative for CAIA to be
manage chemicals in a safe and responsible manner, said
able to add value to its members and the SA chemical
the association. However, the principles and potential
industry at large.'
benefits of product stewardship practices still needed to
Report highlights
ODYSSEY 82
material-related
be entrenched in many signatories' day-to-day operations,
said CAIA. Also, there had been no substantial increase in
Under Safety and Health, the association noted that of
the proportion of signatories which positively reported
the 10 fatalities recorded for 2014 among its reporting
that product stewardship principles were a part of their
members, six occurred during the signatories' own
companies' operations.
road transportation activities – a reflection that there
However, there had been a marked increase since
is increased risk when transporting own material. It
2013 in the proportion of signatories that had reported
is, however, encouraging that 75.5% of submissions
having a Community Awareness and Emergency Response
indicated that there was an implemented behaviour-based
Committee in place. CAIA again reiterated the importance
safety program for employees and contractors in place,
of invitations to community members so that aspects such
said CAIA.
as general housekeeping, standard operating procedures,