Introduction
Background and objective
Selection of core parameters
List of core parameters
Reporting process
CO2 and energy (VEEP Programme)
Environmental burden
Future

Definition of the core parameters

Appendices
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Appendix 6
Appendix 7
Appendix 8
Appendix 9
Appendix 10
Appendix 11
Appendix 12
Appendix 13

Responsible Care - Health, Safety & Environmental reporting guidelines

Appendix 13

Practical guidelines for the preparation of public HSE reports

The text below has been extracted and adapted from the "CEFIC Guidelines on Environmental Reporting for the European Chemical Industry", published in 1993. These guidelines covered environmental reporting only. The text and examples have been updated to reflect HSE reporting, while the detailed contents part that is superseded by the current guidelines has been deleted. Some considerations on Sustainable Development that were developed in 1995 but were not published at that time, have also been included.

Most obviously the issue of HSE reporting is presently in a state of "learning by doing" and a number of developments can be expected in the coming years. For example, the following questions remain open and need further consideration:

  • It is generally accepted that publishing environment reports for individual sites is a response to the public’s demands and a requirement of the current EU-Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). However it is recognised that some companies might prefer to publish reports just at corporate level with no information given for individual sites.
  • Publishing forecasts of emissions for future years, however desirable to gain public credibility, is a sensitive issue left to the decision of individual companies.
  • Reporting on operations in joint ventures can be integrated in corporate HSE reports. In this case the method used for such integration should be mentioned in the report.

This appendix includes the following sections:

  1. Suggested structure for "corporate" HSE reports
  2. Suggested structure for "site" HSE reports
  3. The do’s and don’ts of HSE reporting

When using the guidelines in this appendix, authors of HSE reports should find the best compromise between the format suggested and the specifics of the company or the site.

1. Suggested structure for "corporate" HSE reports

It is suggested that HSE reports covering the activities of a company or corporation include the following sections:

1.1 Foreword

  • Chairman’s address
  • Brief description of the company
  • Business data on the company
  • Company HSE policy
  • Environmental R&D
  • Methodology for reporting (e.g. absolute data, or aggregated index, etc.)

1.2 Production facilities

  • Recent technical achievements, new units, developments, etc.
  • New technologies developed or used; impact on the environment and on resource conservation (energy, raw materials, water, etc.)

1.3 Products

  • New products developed (with lower environmental impact)
  • Product stewardship concept
  • Products (and techniques) developed and marketed for environmental protection

1.4 Sustainable Development

  • Global environmental issues (e.g. climate change, ozone depletion, etc.)
  • Material and energy intensity
  • Recycling
  • Technology co-operation in the field of environmental protection and resources conservation
  • Global operating standards (i.e. how the company ensures a convergence between its sites and the best current industry practice).

1.5 Plans, objectives, goals

  • Major plans and programmes
  • Qualitative objectives (medium/long term)
  • Quantitative objectives (medium/long term)

1.6 Management Systems addressing HSE

  • Company organisation for the management of HSE aspects
  • Human resources, training and education
  • Environmental protection techniques (highlights only)
  • Monitoring systems, data measured/calculated/estimated
  • Environmental impact assessment/risk assessment
  • Safety and Health related programmes/activities
  • Audits
  • Emergency preparedness

1.7 Data (including a comparison with data of previous years)

  • Emissions data
  • Selected details (e.g. soil/ground water protection, noise reduction, etc.)
  • Energy generation and consumption
  • Health and safety data
  • Complaints, prosecutions (optional)
  • Spending on environmental protection

1.8 Communications

  • Community relations
  • Dialogue with external audiences
  • Open days
  • Public advisory panels

1.9 General comments

1.10 Contact People

Note: A corporate report may also include a section dealing with HSE performance of the company’s individual sites. In this case it is recommended that each individual report follow the structure of the sites reports which follow, simplified as appropriate.

2. Suggested structure for "site" HSE reports

It is suggested that HSE reports covering the activities of an individual site of a company include the following sections:

2.1 Foreword

  • Site Manager’s address
  • Company HSE policy
  • Company HSE objectives (medium/long term)

2.2 Site description

  • Main units, main products
  • Site put into perspective:
    • usage of products
    • economic contribution and employment
    • relations with authorities and with local community
    • environmental situation: local conditions of air/water/soil, sensitive areas in the neighbourhood, etc.
    • Legal requirements: permits, emission limit values, etc.
    • Controlling authorities (national, local, etc.)

2.3 Management Systems addressing HSE

  • Structure (human resources, organisation)
  • Programmes, objectives
  • Environmental protection techniques (water treatment, waste disposal, etc.)
  • Integrated approach (recycling, new technologies)
  • Monitoring techniques/systems (data measured/calculated/estimated)
  • Emergency preparedness

2.4 Data (including a comparison with data of previous years)

  • Emissions data
  • Selected details (noise, odours, etc.)
  • Energy generation and consumption
  • Health and safety data
  • Complaints (optional)
  • Spending on environmental protection

2.5 Communications

  • Community relations
  • Open days

2.6 General comments

2.7 Contact people

Note: Information should be adapted to site specific conditions and local expectations.

3. The do’s and don’ts of HSE reporting

The following suggestions are proposed to authors of HSE reports:

  • Audiences should be identified and methods of communication (e.g. presentation and discussion of the report) tailored to suit the needs of the various audiences.
  • Establish a dialogue with the target audience and determine what it wants to know.
  • The audience must know from where supplementary information can be obtained, e.g. through a reply slip or an open telephone.
  • Comparisons between the environmental impact of different industries are not appropriate.
  • Even an estimate is better than saying nothing.
  • Failures, accidents and prosecutions should be made public and explained.
  • Consistency across sites in a single company and between sites in a single locality is desirable in order to pre-empt differential criticism. (Nevertheless a company needs a certain flexibility to adapt the information to its own specific requirements and to local expectations).
  • It must be periodically checked that the information supplied is being understood and accepted.
  • Do not "blind the public with science", nor patronise them with oversimplification.
  • Dialogue must be the keynote.
  • Information made available to the public must also be given and explained to the workers on the site.
  • Do realise that your first report is not the definitive report.

 

Copyright© 1998, European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC). All rights reserved.