2018 EHS Safety Award Winners Announced

Facility Excellence Award has Two Winners

“Grupo RB & Arrmaz Custom Chemicals, Inc. Receive Facility Excellence Award”

Vancouver, BC. Grupo RB headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, was awarded the 2018 Environmental, Health, and Safety Facility Excellence Award on September 24, 2019 by the Pine Chemicals Association. The award was presented to Jose Ferreira, during the Pine Chemicals Association International Meeting that was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, BC.

Grupo RB implemented culture improvements in all sectors of its organization (administrative, support, operational, forestry, industrial), starting with an EHS diagnostic conducted by a team of professionals. The improvements were extensive and injuries were reduced by 67%. Improvements were made in site security, accident prevention training, environmental risk training, expanded use of checklists, increased periodic inspections, hazard and risk inspections, fire protection improvements, and enhanced mechanical integrity inspections.

The Pine Chemicals Association congratulates Grupo RB, Jose Pinto da Rocha Jorge Ferreira, and the Grupo RB employees for their commitment to Environmental, Health and Safety Facility Excellence in the workplace and community which they operate. For more information, visit www.pinechemicals.org.

Vancouver, BC. Arrmaz Custom Chemicals, Inc., headquartered in Mulberry FL, was awarded the 2018 Environmental, Health, and Safety Facility Excellence Award for its four U.S. facilities on September 24, 2019 by the Pine Chemicals Association. The award was presented to John Pflasterer, during the Pine Chemicals Association International Meeting that was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, BC.

Arrmaz Custom Chemicals Inc. implemented improvements that resulted in a dramatic 74% decrease in injury rates. These improvements included many activities, but improved near miss reporting was a key component. Other initiatives included improvements to tool box safety meetings, improved employee participation, enhancements to lockout/tagout, enhanced contractor and visitor orientation and training, and celebration of safety milestones. The Pine Chemicals Association congratulates Arrmaz Custom Chemicals, Inc., John Pflasterer, Director of Sourcing and Logistics, and the Arrmaz employees for their commitment to environmental, health and safety facility excellence in the workplace and community which they operate. For more information, visit www.pinechemicals.org.

The Safety and Health Facility Excellence award is given to recognize and honor a member company facility that has identified and evaluated safety and health hazards in the workplace and demonstrated excellence through the implementation of hazard controls that significantly reduced risk, ensuring that employee safety and health is a core value of the organization.

“Plasmine Technology, Inc. Employee Receives Employee Excellence Award”

    
Vancouver, BC.    Hugh Parker, Safety Manager with Plasmine Technology Inc, Bay Minette Plant in Bay Minette AL, was awarded the 2018 Environmental, Health, and Safety Employee Excellence on September 24, 2019 by the Pine Chemicals Association.  The award was presented at the Pine Chemicals Association International Meeting held at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, BC.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Employee Excellence award is given to recognize and honor an employee of a member company that has demonstrated excellence in their strong commitment to ensure environmental, health and safety initiatives that are a core value of the organization. 

Parkers’ selection was based on a number of factors, including many significant improvements that have positively changed the safety culture and through his own personal growth by obtaining Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification the past year.  “Hugh has been and is currently instrumental in activities and initiatives that are making Plasmine progress dramatically in safety,” stated Kyle Michael, who nominated Parker for the award.

The Bay Minette facility has undergone significant changes in safety expectations in the last few years and this requires training and coaching to teach and lead by example as well as consistency.  Parker has championed the opportunity of helping Plasmine improve its safety culture through employee education, training, and ownership.  His professionalism, knowledge, and ability to approach employees and contractors in a constructive manner are a big part of his success.  

Parker made needed improvements in their arc flash assessment and compliance, electrical safety training, and lockout/tagout.  In addition, he was instrumental in the implementation of a formal JSA program that is currently thriving.  Parker has taken the opportunity to exchange ideas and share Plasmine's safety activities and initiatives with other companies.  Parker has also worked with the local county high school technical department as a project for rising students to build a new visitor/contractor safety video for the Bay Minette plant.  He also participates with local colleges to give engineering students opportunities to tour and learn about a chemical plant.

The Pine Chemicals Association congratulates Hugh Parker and Plasmine Technology Inc., Bay Minette Plant for their commitment to environmental, health and safety excellence in the workplace and community which they operate. For more information, visit www.pinechemicals.org.

         “Ingevity Plant Manager Receives Leadership Excellence Award”

Vancouver, BC.  Eric Walmet, Plant Manager of Ingevity’s North Charleston Plant, in North Charleston, SC was awarded the 2018 Environmental, Health, and Safety Leadership Excellence Award on September 24, 2019, by the Pine Chemicals Association.  The award was presented during the Pine Chemicals Association International Meeting held at the Fairmont Hotel, in Vancouver, BC.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Leadership Excellence Award is given to recognize and honor an individual in a top leadership position of a member company that has demonstrated excellence in their organizational leadership skills and strong commitment to manage environmental, health and safety excellence programs as a core value of the organization.

Walmet’s selection was based on a number of factors, including the facility reaching a milestone of eclipsing a year without a recordable injury or significant process safety event.  "Under Eric’s leadership, the plant continues to maintain outstanding safety and health performance as well as making improvements in process safety and environmental performance metrics,” stated Robert Heck who nominated Walmet for the award.

 As the Plant Manager, Walmet is a strong advocate of effective communication, both with his direct reports and the entire Plant population.  He regularly meets with his direct reports one on one, as well as meeting with employees in their work areas.  This allows for better understanding and to gives the opportunity to provide productive feedback support.

One way that Walmet drives change is through alignment of every team member’s goals that include the continued drive to ensure a zero injury culture through demonstrated management leadership.  This includes a positive safety contact process and utilizing the results of formalized safety perception surveys to develop action plans for improvement.  Other goals include ensuring workforce engagement in safety efforts through the completion of job safety analyses, process safety vulnerability assessments, and effective safety teams.  Walmet ensures employees are held accountable to proactive safety metrics that drive improvements in injury rates.

The Pine Chemicals Association congratulates Eric Walmet and the Ingevity North Charleston Plant for their commitment to environmental, health and safety excellence in the workplace and community which they operate. For more information, visit www.pinechemicals.org.