Introduction

Environmental, Health and Safety at Rohm and Haas, Cincinnati is committed to the corporate Safety Journey.  We are involved in many corporate and local initiatives that ensure safe operation for our employees and the community.

Our facility provides an ongoing comprehensive health surveillance program for employees.  Our programs are based on standards set by NIOSH, OSHA and other regulatory bodies.  We offer annual physicals, environmental monitoring and a focus on proper ergonomics.

Rohm and Haas, Cincinnati also participates in the yearly National Health and Fitness Day.  Employees participate in fitness-focused events throughout the day, and are treated to a healthy lunch.

Commitment to Safety

At Rohm and Haas, special care is taken to protect its employees, neighbors and contractors by requiring the use of personal protective equipment while in the main plant areas.  Our 28 buildings are equipped with fire extinguishers and water sprinklers.  Our railcar storage area is connected to a 400,000 gallon water deluge system.  Our storage tanks are surrounded by large concrete dikes to contain accidental spills.  We also use continuous chemical leak detection systems for two of our chemicals stored in railcars - chlorine and methyl chloride.  In the event of an accidental release, an alarm sounds and our emergency response plan is activated. 

Emergency Response Team

The Cincinnati facility Emergency Response Team (ERT) is composed of 40 trained employee volunteers from all departments covering all shifts.  Team members participate in four to five training sessions each year, including a simulated emergency response drill with the City of Reading Fire Department.  Team members are trained in spill mitigation, decontamination, incident command, personal protective equipment use, first aid, CPR and blood-born pathogen protection.

Internal Communication

Internally, our boiler operator is the hub of emergency communications at Rohm and Haas, Cincinnati.  Any employee or contractor who discovers a fire, release, spill or injury immediately reports it to the facility boiler operator.  The boiler operator blows the steam whistle and announces over the site paging system the type of emergency and location so that ERT members can respond to the appropriate location.  The boiler operator then immediately calls the City of Reading Fire Department and advises them of the type of emergency so they can carry out the appropriate response.  All key Rohm and Haas personnel carry multi-channel, two-way radios to facilitate communications.

Community Notification

While Rohm and Haas personnel are prepared to handle any onsite emergency, it is routine operating practice to immediately contact the Reading Fire Department if a fire, spill, leak, or other accident should occur.  Shift supervisors coordinate the emergency response until the fire department arrives.  The fire department assumes incident command upon arrival at the facility and determines what safety information needs to be communicated to community residents.

Safety Train

Rohm and Haas offers a unique safety training opportunity with the Rohm and Haas Safety Train.  We are able to provide hands on training for transportation emergencies with local emergency agencies.  The Rohm and Haas Safety Train visited Cincinnati and provided the employees, their families, and the community a first hand look at how chemicals are safely transported and handled.  Training classes were also offered for visitors.  

A highlight was emergency response training that simulated an accidental chemical release.  This exercise involved several community fire departments and chemical companies.  This event was featured in an issue of the Rohm and Haas Environmental Update (see the Environmental Update Links below, for more information).

Commitment to the Environment

Rohm and Haas, Cincinnati has made great strides in reducing, recovering and recycling waste.  In the twelve years between 1986 and 1998, we decreased the hazardous waste generated from our facility by 80% while our production output increased by 60%.  This success was achieved through the use of fewer hazardous raw materials and improvements on our processes.  Back in 1996, we installed a scrubber system to capture and control odors from plant operations.  We also recycle fluorescent light bulbs, ballasts, paper, aluminum cans, scrap metal, used oil and spent antifreeze.  Our efforts have paid off, and are evidenced by our SARA (Superfund Ammendments & Reauthorization Act) TRI (Toxic Release Information) statistics.  We continue to move forward with efforts to manufacture our products in an environmentally responsible manner by focusing on ways of minimizing waste, and recycling whenever possible.

Odor Investigation Measures at Rohm and Haas Cincinnati

This Odor Control Report form is used by the Rohm and Haas Cincinnati facility to initiate an investigation on all odor complaints, both internal and external. The purpose of the form is to gather pertinent information about the odor complaint and information pertaining to facility operations or processes that are taking place during the complaint to determine if the odor is one that is due to our operations or not. A complete analysis will take place for every odor complaint received, and a written response will be issued within 48 hours to the complainant (telephone or mail).

Be sure to call 513-733-2135 immediately after smelling an odor and give your name, address, time of odor, and type of odor smelled when voicing a complaint. Remember, the quicker you call after smelling an odor, the greater the chance of collecting accurate information on the facility processes and operations.

RCRA Corrective Action

On August 18, 2000 a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Administrative Order was issued to Morton International.  The resultant "Facility Investigation Work Plan" contains information regarding the operations, history, and environmental conditions at the Morton Facility, and will be public record.  Details of the work plan, sampling and project schedule can be found here.  This action is ongoing, and updates will be posted as available.

Environmental Health and Safety Updates

In an effort to keep the local community informed of activities going on at Rohm and Haas, we provide periodic EHS Updates to the community.  These updates share company news, and address issues that the community may be interested in.  

All available updates can be accessed below via pdf files (require Adobe Acrobat Reader), or text only versions of the pdf files.

Medical Surveillance Programs At Rohm and Haas

Rohm and Haas, Cincinnati provides medical surveillance programs to monitor the well being of its employees.  Two of the systems in place are presented here in PDF file overviews.  These programs were presented at the March, 2002 CAC meetings.

Industrial Hygiene Overview

Medical Surveillance Program Overview