MIDLAND, Mich. - June 01, 2012
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) recently received Union Pacific (UP) Railroad’s 2011 Chemical Transportation Safety Pinnacle Award. This honor recognizes Union Pacific customers that have implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and achieved zero non-accident releases (NARs) during their 2011 shipments of regulated hazardous materials shipments.
"The safe handling and transportation of our products is a top priority for Dow, so this recognition is extremely meaningful to us," said Dave Kepler, executive vice president, Business Services and Chief Sustainability Officer. "The Pinnacle is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees. It also reflects the commitment to Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals of Local Protection of Human Health and the Environment and Product Safety Leadership."
Henry Ward, Dow’s director of Supply Chain Transportation Safety and Security, was a featured speaker at the UP Chemical Transportation Safety and Security Conference held on April 25th in Houston, Texas, where the awards were presented. The conference coincided with UP’s 150th anniversary of operation. Ward’s presentation, entitled "A Shipper’s Perspective on Rail Hazmat Safety," highlights Dow’s leadership and close partnership with UP to elevate rail safety.
Dow has received a total of 25 NAR awards from the seven Class 1 railroads in North America since 2005, but the UP Pinnacle Award has been the most difficult to achieve. Stringent criteria for the award included safe-loading techniques, secure shipments and zero NARs. NARs refer to leaks, splashes and other unintentional releases of hazardous material(s) while in transportation that are not caused by derailment, collision or other rail-related accidents. Preventing such releases through properly secured valves, fittings and other devices is crucial to help carriers and shippers avoid service delays and cleanup costs, as well as possible personnel exposures or environmental impact.
In its award application, Dow cited its "Drive to Zero" Environmental Health & Safety program as a key factor in its NAR minimization. The Company has reduced NARs by 50 percent from a 2005 baseline and is working to achieve a 75 percent reduction by 2015. To help accomplish this, Dow has instituted a new, annual NAR prevention training course and has expanded requirements for secure global loading procedures and checklists.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
For editorial information:
Jeff Lichon
The Dow Chemical Company
+1 (989) 638-3193
JLichon@dow.com