The Chlorine Institute’s Annual Safety Recognition Awards event was held this week. Various producers, packagers and bleach manufacturers were recognized for their personnel and process safety efforts this past year. There are three different categories of awards that the Chlorine Institute issues based on data compiled at the end of each year for each branch. This data indicates whether or not the respective branch had an RQ incident, a Chlorine Inhalation Injury (referred to as an RMP Incident, all chlorine inhalations are immediately documented in the facilities RMP and then to the EPA), and whether or not the facility had an OSHA Recordable Injury.  The Chlorine Institute also take into account how many work hours and or years you have gone since incurring one of these types of incidents.  All JCI branches received at least one of these awards this year. Congratulations to all JCI branches for your continued diligence, investments in safety and awareness, and your successful recognition of these very important awards!

CHAIRMAN’S SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD

This is the most difficult award to achieve.  These awards are for those facilities that have not had an RQ Incident, an RMP Chlorine Inhalation Injury, or an OSHA Recordable Injury (must meet all three criteria) over the past 3 years or 60,000 work hours.  This award is given out at 60,000 work hour increments starting with the 60,000 work hour level.  We had 3 branches receive this award: Caledonia, Tacoma and Torrance.  Caledonia and Tacoma each received one for the 60,000 work hour level and Torrance received one for the 180,000 work hour level. 

 PROCESS SAFETY AWARD

This award is for facilities that did not have an RQ Incident or an RMP Chlorine Inhalation Injury in 2012.  They also recognize how far back you go as well (just back to 1999 though which is the baseline year, when the RMP rule was implemented). 10 of our 11 branches received this award this year.

PERSONNEL SAFETY AWARD

This award is for facilities that did not have an OSHA Recordable Injury in 2012 (i.e., an injury that resulted in either lost time, restricted/light duty time, or off-site medical treatment other than routine first aid). Congratulations to:

A special thanks to JCI's own, Tim Gaffney, VP of Environmental & Regulatory Compliance, Dan Casmey, Vice President of Safety and Security, and Mike Croke, Branch Manager, Charlotte, NC for attending this event.