CHARLESTON, WV – On October 27, members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) met with chemical industry colleagues, community leaders and state officials in West Virginia for the Enhancing Chemical Safety and Environmental Performance workshop. Hosted by NACD, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association and the American Chemistry Council, the workshop focused on chemical industry best practices and provided local businesses a unique chance to explore efforts that enhance chemical safety and security throughout the supply chain.

The workshop included panels on operations management, chemical handling and safety, and crisis preparation, and allowed attendees to learn from each other in a scenario breakout session focusing on industry-specific issues. Vanessa Allen Sutherland, Chairperson of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, gave the keynote address, while U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito discussed the importance of the chemical industry to West Virginia’s economy and improvements made to chemical safety following the recent passage of bipartisan Toxic Substances Control Act legislation.

“NACD members have an average of 26 employees, so we understand that implementing effective environmental, health, safety and security programs can be a challenge for small businesses,” said NACD President Eric. R. Byer. “Responsible Distribution and similar industry environmental, health, safety and security programs like Responsible Care provide the resources smaller businesses need to ensure they are responsible partners to their suppliers and customers and responsible neighbors in the communities where they operate.”

NACD is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its mandatory, third-party verified environmental, health, safety and security program, Responsible Distribution. NACD members experience fewer injuries, fatalities and lost work days than chemical distributors that do not belong to the association and have a safety rating nearly twice as good as all manufacturing combined.