Appendix 1
Responsible Care fundamental features criteria for associations
Responsible Care is an initiative developed and
adopted by chemical industry associations to improve the health, safety and environmental
performance of their member company operations and products and the level of community
involvement and awareness of the industry.
The fundamental features describe the required components of Responsible Care. These
can be tailored to meet the specific culture and needs of the country implementing the
ethic. The criteria associated with each stage of implementation of the features are given
in accompanying chart. These have been defined by the ICCA Responsible Care Leadership
Group to assist the primary national chemical associations in their effort to reliably and
consistently assess the stage of their implementation of each feature.
An association will be deemed to have reached a stage when it is operating in
compliance with substantially all of the criteria. Complete satisfaction of all criteria
is not required for placement in that stage.
The involvement and support of a company’s Chief Executive Officer is critical to
the establishment of overall Responsible Care ethic within an organization. In this
context the CEO is defined as the most senior management person operating in the country.
Community involvement is desirable as early as practicable in the establishment of each
fundamental feature because it will improve the relevance of processes introduced and
because it contributes directly to the accomplishment of a primary Responsible Care
objective.
It is not necessary to proceed at the same pace through the stages of each feature.
Implementation of Guiding Principles and Name and Logo protection will usually precede and
Verification will often lag the implementation of other features. The implementation
schedule overall can reflect the unique culture and situations of the country.
Protection of the global integrity of Responsible Care is a key ICCA objective.
Consequently early attention to protection of its name and logo by the association is
encouraged.
Fundamental features criteria
Initiating
The association is considering a plan or program to implement the feature, but has not
yet begun to implement it.
Developing
The association is in the midst of developing a plan or program that establishes the
feature.
Implementing
The association has completed the development of the plan or program to establish the
feature and has in place the persons and/or processes necessary to maintain the feature
and proceed with its continuous improvement.
1. Guiding Principles
Initiating
- Responsible Care board leadership group
formed.
- Member interest/support surveyed.
- Commitment mechanism decided.
- Intentions communicated internally to
ICCA.
- International models reviewed by
leadership group.
Developing
- Working party formed and meeting.
- International models reviewed.
- Draft guiding principles published.
- Feedback from members being received.
- Viable level of CEO support confirmed.
Implementing
- Agreed guiding principles confirmed by
association board.
- Document distributed to all CEOs.
- Signed commitments (or alternative) being
returned by CEOs.
- Follow up on outstanding members
commenced.
- Member company contacts/coordinators
appointed.
2. Name, Logo
Feature summary
Adoption of a title and logo which clearly identify national programs as being
consistent with and part of the concept of Responsible Care.
Initiating
- International standard reviewed by the
leadership group.
- Name and logo adopted as appropriate.
- Intentions communicated internally to ICCA
and feedback obtained.
- Rules for use of name and logo developed
by working group.
Developing
- Rules adopted by the leadership group.
- Rules communicated to member companies.
Implementing
- Name and logo in routine use.
- Member companies observing established
rules.
- Observance monitored.
- Only members of association are using
Responsible Care name and logo.
3. Codes, Guides
Feature summary
A series of Codes, Guidance notes or
Checklists to assist companies to implement the commitment of Responsible Care to achieve
continuous health, safety and environmental improvements.
Initiating
- International models reviewed by
leadership group or working party.
- Mechanisms to be used formulated.
- Working party to establish overall
structure formed and meeting.
- Member companies surveyed on draft
proposals.
- Process for input from interested parties
defined.
- Draft timetable published.
Developing
- Code structure (or equivalent) confirmed
by CEOs.
- Individual code working groups established
and meeting as appropriate.
- Draft codes or guidance developing and
published in accordance with timetable.
- Member company feedback obtained.
- Interested party inputs incorporated as
per agreed process.
Implementing
- Codes/guide published to timetable.
- Training sessions for member company
coordinators held.
- Code or guidance implementation by members
in progress.
- Mechanisms in place for intercompany
sharing of experience.
4. Indicators
Feature summary
The progressive development of indicators
against which improvements and performance can be measured.
Initiating
- International models reviewed by
leadership group or working party.
- Mechanisms to be used formulated.
- Interested party issues/input included.
- Member companies surveyed on draft
proposals.
- Draft timetable published.
Developing
- Appropriate working parties formed.
- Draft indicators agreed by member CEOs and
interested parties.
- Timetable for implementation agreed.
- Member companies informed.
- Indicator reporting mechanisms agreed.
- Training for member companies conducted.
- Indicator measurements commenced by
members to the timetable.
Implementing
- Indicator reporting commenced.
- Continued interested parties comments
obtained.
- Indicators part of company sharing
discussions.
- Indicators made public.
5. Communications
Feature summary
An on-going association and member
company process of communication on health, safety and environmental matters with
interested parties inside and outside the membership.
Initiating
- International models reviewed by
leadership group or working party.
- Mechanisms to be used formulated.
- Process for formal input from external
interested parties including government established.
- Special consideration given to local
community input/concerns.
- Member companies surveyed/informed.
- Media relationships considered.
Developing
- External interested party input process
functioning.
- Proposals for local communication
formulated.
- Member company CEO agreement obtained.
- Training for member companies conducted.
- Pilot trials of local communications
commenced.
- Target timetables/milestones set.
- Government kept informed.
- Media appropriately involved.
Implementing
- Interested party input process reviewed
and updated as appropriate.
- Implementation of local processes
proceeding to targets.
- Regular feedback from interested parties
obtained. Issues addressed.
- Government reaction monitored and
addressed.
- Media contact maintained.
- Responsible Care communications are part
of company communications strategy.
- Internal and external feedback or surveys
of Responsible Care awareness being obtained by most companies or by association.
6. Sharing
Feature summary
Provision of forums in which company CEO
and Responsible Care coordinators can share views and exchange experiences on
implementation of the commitment.
Initiating
- Leadership group meeting regularly.
- International models reviewed by the
leadership group.
- Mechanisms to be used formulated.
- Member company input obtained.
Developing
- Appropriate working parties and peer
review groups established.
- Sharing mechanisms agreed.
- Timetable for meetings established.
- Company Responsible Care coordinators
fully trained and functioning.
Implementing
- Regular CEO and Responsible Care
coordinator sharing meetings held.
- Newsletter/communications commenced.
Feedback obtained.
- Regional steering groups considered.
- Mutual aid/mentor partnerships considered.
- Specific issue working groups established.
- Participation in international industry
sharing arrangements undertaken.
7. Encouragement
Feature summary
Consideration of how best to encourage
all association member companies to commit and participate in Responsible Care.
Initiating
- International models reviewed by the
leadership group.
- Mechanism to be used drafted with emphasis
on positive incentives and benefits.
- Possible encouragement and sanction
considered.
- Member company input obtained.
Developing
- Working group established to recommend
incentives/sanctions.
- Criteria for implementation of
incentives/sanctions established.
- Positive incentives/benefits emphasized.
- Performance indicators and criteria for
dealing with poor performance communicated to CEOs.
Implementing
- Performance indicators monitored for both
high and low performers.
- Mechanisms are in place to recognize high
performers and assist less advanced companies.
- Processes for dealing with persistent
poor-performers in place.
8. Verification
Feature summary
Systematic procedures to verify the
implementation of the measurable (or practical) elements of Responsible Care by the member
companies
Initiating
- International certification models and
ICCA guidelines reviewed by leadership group.
- Mechanisms to be used formulated.
- Member company input obtained.
Developing
- Interested party inputs obtained.
- Verification procedures meeting ICCA
guidelines are drafted.
- Member companies surveyed on draft
proposals and trials underway.
- Timetable for implementation of
verification procedures decided.
Implementing
- Verification (internal or external)
procedures in use.
- Verification results used to continually
improve Responsible Care implementation efforts.
- Verification results communicated by
companies or association to interested parties.
