Brazoria County Petrochemical Council Tackles Workplace Heat Stress with Landmark Symposium

Posted on May 20, 2024November 21, 2024 by bcpetrocouncil

With recommendations for different practices, monitoring, and technology…

Freeport, TX (March 18, 2024) –Given the hot and humid climate in Southeast Texas, for the first time the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) Environment, Health, and Safety (EH&S) Committee conducted a “Beat the Heat” symposium. The seminar was on February 22, 2024, at the Brazosport Safety Council in Freeport, TX. The event marked a pivotal step in the fight against occupational heat stress injury, a threat to workers’ safety which transcends age and fitness levels.

Working in the heat presents potential hazards to workers at BCPC sites year round.

The symposium drew upon heartfelt personal stories, confirming that heat stress spares no one and is a significant concern within the petrochemical manufacturing industry. Experts, leaders from the BCPC, front-line workers, and OSHA representatives provided viewpoints based on their own experience, that of colleagues, to form a comprehensive picture of the challenge at hand.

Key Highlights from the Symposium
There were a number of solemn reminders about the serious, even life-threatening consequences of heat related injuries. Some of these were:
– Trying to demonstrate one’s endurance or ‘toughness’ was cited specifically as a cause of serious injuries.
– The relevance of OSHA’s original 1972 heat exposure guidelines were discussed along with the updates that remain relevant 52 years later.
– The symptoms, rates, and grave consequences of heat-related illnesses were described in detail and punctuated by pointed and even tragic personal stories.
– Various companies showcased effective strategies and best practices for preventing heat-related illnesses, from hydration monitoring to managerial involvement.
– Technological innovations like consumable hydration energy gels and cooling equipment received spotlight attention.

Constant Vigilance Required
The symposium concluded with a strong consensus: rigorous education, adherence to OSHA guidelines, adoption of advanced technologies, and industry-wide collaboration are paramount to safeguarding the workforce.
Actionable recommendations were established to ensure the momentum started at the BCPC EH&S Beat the Heat Symposium:
– All meeting materials were dispatched to all in attendance to ensure comprehensive knowledge dissemination.
– A call for organizations to review and refresh their heat stress prevention protocols.
– Schedule in-depth training sessions to ingrain symposium learning into respective company cultures.
– A directive to leverage cutting-edge technologies for enhanced worker protection.
– A benchmark for tracking heat-related incidents, despite previously reported unreliable figures.

Looking Ahead:
– A post-symposium survey to collect participant feedback will be circulated to all in attendance.
– Distribution of a thorough resource compendium spanning technological tools to expert contacts.
– The planning of a subsequent symposium to evaluate progress and confront new challenges will be planned.
The BCPC EH&S Committee applauds the participants’ fervent engagement and their pledge to undertake proactive measures in their respective organizations. Occupational health and safety is an evolving field that demands continuous vigilance and cooperation.

About the BCPC
This press release serves as a part of the commitment to ongoing education, improvement, and the pursuit of a safer working environment for all involved in the petrochemical industry.
BCPC member companies produce 1000s of raw materials and intermediate products that impact the quality of all of our lives every day, which directly results in: clean water and energy; packaging that protects food; hygiene products like soap and deodorants; antibiotics and other medicines, clothing materials, products that help people stay connected to their digital lives but also lifesaving equipment like pacemakers; from home insulation to appliances and furniture; the automotive industry; heating and cooling systems at home and at work; plus much more.

The economic impact for the companies associated with the BCPC is $4+ billion. This includes payroll, local purchasing, state and local taxes, capital expenses, and charitable contributions.
Through its member companies, BCPC employs 9,500 full-time direct employees and 6,800 full-time contractors. It is estimated that for every job created directly by the industry, another 5 to 7 jobs are created, equaling another 100,000 indirect jobs.

BCPC is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health, safety, security, environment, and economic well-being of the industry. We will continue to raise awareness about the economic value and benefits we bring to the local area and to the world.

Brazoria County Petrochemical Council Emphasizes Prevention of Injuries Caused by Dropped Objects

Posted on July 31, 2022December 2, 2024 by bcpetrocouncil

Brazoria County Petrochemical Council Emphasizes Prevention of Injuries Caused by Dropped Objects

There are more than 50,000 “struck by falling object” OSHA recordable injuries every year in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preventing these types of injuries in the workplace motivated approximately 200 professionals to spend an afternoon at the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) Environment Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee’s ‘Stop the Drop’ safety symposium.

This was the BCPC EH&S committee’s first safety related event. It took place May 19, 2022, at the ABC Texas Gulf Coast located in Freeport, TX. Alex Martinez from Brock Group and Michael Gill from Turner Industries presented the latest and best information available on dropped objects injury prevention to the industry professionals present. Later, a meaningful Q&A session was held with the audience and panel members from BCPC owner and contractor companies.

BCPC Motives

The members of the BCPC have one primary goal; to collaborate with each other and our community so that we earn the public’s trust every day. The dropped objects safety symposium and other activities from the BCPC are to always act as good neighbors. “The BCPC membership works and behaves in socially responsible ways so that everyone who works inside member facilities goes home in the same condition in which they arrived every day,” according to Paul Spinks, Shintech’s Freeport, TX site leader and president of the BCPC. “This event helps define what this group of petrochemical companies are about, to engage in the best, safest ways to work that preserves everyone’s health and safety.”

Prevention as the Remedy

Those annual “struck by falling object” OSHA recordables equate to one injury caused by a fallen item every 10 minutes. This level of risk is on par with the consequences of other petrochemical industry hazards like

confined space entry. Working at heights should receive the same attention. “The members of the EH&S committee chose dropped object prevention because it is a common risk that we all face,” said Dirk Perrin, plant manager for Chevron Phillips Chemical in Sweeny, TX and chair of the BCPC EH&S Committee. “There is value learning from each other to eliminate this hazard.”

Good Housekeeping Prevents Hazards and Injuries

Activity in elevated spaces will often result in tools and materials left behind on scaffolding. “An emphasis on housekeeping at raised levels prevents things from accidentally being kicked off an elevated platform,” Perrin said. “Objects that fall can bounce up, impact, or ricochet off other surfaces while falling, posing a threat to people who are working in adjacent areas.”

Dropped Objects Injury Prevention

Considering the millions of scaffolding parts, tools, and materials at elevated heights in facilities, there are many opportunities for a dropped object to come in contact with a person. “There is no level of caution that is too much effort for dropped object prevention,” Perrin said.

Consider the Following When Planning Elevated Work

With prevention in mind these steps will aid those working off the ground:

Place nets around and underneath scaffolds to ‘catch’ things that drop straight down.
Use tethers on tools that could slip out of someone’s hand.
Put barricades around areas where items could fall and ricochet.
Keep the worksite tidy, both on and off the ground. Tidiness also eliminates tripping hazards on the ground and above.
Do not wait. Immediately retrieve anything left on the ground or on a scaffold.
Make dropped object injury prevention part of job planning and hazard evaluation/recognition activities.

“If these simple steps are followed, then the number of injuries due to falling objects will definitely decrease,” Perrin concluded. “It is up to each of us to be mindful of where we are while at work and especially when working on a scaffold.”

Damage done to a hard hat was just one example of the harm that can come from a falling object in the workplace. The damage a falling sledgehammer does to a hard hat illustrates the potential for injury on the job caused by dropped objects at the BCPC Environment Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee’s ‘Stop the Drop’ safety symposium.