NACD: Webb Chemical Service rewarded for Responsible Distribution excellence

Webb Chemical Service has picked up the prestigious 2014 NACD Responsible Distribution® Excellence Award, presented to the company’s CEO, Brad Hilleary, at this year’s ChemEdge operations and management conference.

The award – now in its ninth year – recognizes excellence in corporate adherence to the aims of the NACD’s Responsible Distribution program (see box, below), which focuses on the safe handling of chemicals throughout the distribution supply chain, including environmental health, safety and security.

Hilleary accepted the award at ChemEdge

Mike Lang, vice president, Responsible Distribution, says: “The winner of the award is a unique company, one that is not only Responsible Distribution verified but also ISO9001 and ISO14001 compliant. Senior management commitment was evident from a very positive workforce that could understand and communicate the cause and effect relationship between performance, profitability, and sustainability.”

Each year, representatives from two independent verifying companies nominate NACD members for excellence in such areas as practices of excellence, continuous improvement, site verification and management commitment. Then, members of the award committee select the award winner.

Webb Chemical’s Hilleary says the Responsible Distribution ethos is embedded throughout the company, with employees taking an active role in implementing, monitoring and fine-tuning its environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) systems.

“We’ve encouraged all employees to adjust and upgrade the system so if we need to change then we will encourage them to participate. They will write the instructions and procedures,” he says.

Webb Chemical Service employees also audit each other on EHS&S. Teams are formed from a variety of departments including sales, accounting, and maintenance, plus warehouse and driving staff and are usually encouraged to focus on a different part of the business.

“They become Responsible Distribution verifiers and are trained to assess their peers with a fine toothcomb,” he says.

According to Hilleary, customers and suppliers find the internal and external auditing systems in place to be reassuring: “A lot of customers contact us to find out what kind of quality management systems we have in place. When we can prove that we’ve been externally audited they can see we’re investing time and effort into this.”

The company has a daily focus on Responsible Distribution with morning operational meetings to discuss issues and plan improvements.

He adds: “Becoming part of the Responsible Distribution program will keep our companies viable and safer for employees and the community. Failing to join up is almost not an option as you have to be a responsible distributor.”

Webb Chemical Service has been in business for 50 years and has sales of around $70m with more than 80 employees. Hilleary’s father joined the company in 1968 and bought out the original owner in 1971 with a partner. When his father retired in 2010, Hilleary took over as the primary owner with his brother and sister as secondary shareholders.

The group is a full-service chemical distributor based in Western Michigan with a stocking location in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has been an NACD member since 2001. It has bulk storage capacity of more than 280,000 gallons, consisting of both indoor and outdoor tanks for organic and inorganic chemicals.

Webb Chemical handles multiple products in rail such as alcohols, chlor-alkalis, ketones, ­acetates, and acids. It also has more than 110,000 square feet of warehouse storage for liquid and dry chemicals, and the capability of storing ­flammable and temperature sensitive chemicals.

WEBB CHEMICAL PUTS RESPONSIBLE DISTRIBUTION AT THE CENTER OF ITS OPERATIONS

NACD first developed Responsible Distribution in 1991. At its core is a mandatory third-party verification system that covers aspects of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and ­disposal.

Here are some selected highlights of Webb Chemical’s Responsible Distribution verification report:

• On-site tanker washout and drying facility, utilizing fresh water for each washout.
• Robust “New Product Review” procedure, which is conducted by the sales team.
• Excellent use of bulletin boards was observed in all buildings. Postings included training completions, minutes from the last safety meeting, supplier scorecards and quality measurable.
• Easy-to-read labelling was observed on all tanks, pipes, manifolds and connections.
• A two-key (supervisor-employee) opening process is utilized for filling bulk tanks.
• Drains are color coded for yellow (to city), blue (to containment) and red (to stormwater).
• Nitrogen is used for blanketing, chemical transfers and hose blow-down.
• Management Review Team meetings are conducted quarterly and documented.
• Quarterly meetings are held with employees to review performance against goals and objectives.
• Webb has three consecutive years of improved safety performance, during which time the number of employees and hours worked increased.