Chemical plant security is and always has been a central priority for Dow. Even predating the 9/11 attacks, Dow maintained and complied with a self-imposed comprehensive, multi-level global security program designed to protect our plants, employees and communities worldwide. Since the attacks, we permanently heightened the level of security at all Dow facilities for the long term by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in security upgrades.
Dow’s security program incorporates measures focused to detect, deter, delay and to respond to intrusions at Dow’s facilities. This integrated approach is embedded across our enterprise — in site and facility security, personnel security, supply chain security, information/cyber security and emergency response.
Our objective is to ensure that our facilities, our supply-chains and our communities are protected from security threats so we may safely provide life-enhancing products that play a key role in the economy. Dow took a leadership role with the American Chemistry Council (ACC) to establish and implement an aggressive and comprehensive Responsible Care® Security Code for all member companies. In addition, we took a leadership role advocating for federal security legislation, to ensure that member facilities and non-member facilities alike meet the same standards. We continue to advocate for permanent security regulations.
We have also driven the creation and adoption of rigorous, integrated industry-wide security standards that we adhere to uncompromisingly and proudly state publicly. Nothing is more important to us than safeguarding our communities and our people.
But we never consider our work done. We constantly assess the risks to employees, facilities, supply chain, and information systems. While the primary responsibility for public security rests within the role of governments around the world, Dow is strongly committed to working with industry and governments wherever we operate to help address safety and security needs.
Dow was a leading advocate for uniform, risk-based and performance-based chemical security legislation in the 109th Congress and continues to advocate for permanent security regulations. We believe there are three critical components to an effective and integrated national chemical security approach:
1. We must take a comprehensive, uniform and risk-based approach to protect the people and communities of our nation as well as our nation’s critical infrastructure.
2. Effective protection of critical infrastructure can only be achieved through government-public-private partnerships to ensure our nation’s security while maintaining the flow of commerce for a vibrant and growing economy.
3. While the Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) are a significant step forward in ensuring all chemical facilities meet the same risk-based performance standards for security, the Department of Homeland Security requires long-term authority to regulate chemical security.
Responsible Care® is a registered service mark of the American Chemistry Council.
