An introduction to RCMS

 

RCMS(Responsible Care Management System) is an American Chemistry Council performance improvement program. It is independent of RC14001 which is a technical specification for those organizations looking to implement ISO 14001 and the additional RC requirements. RC is based upon the seven codes of management practice. These include Product Stewardship, Employee Health and Safety, Process Safety and Process Security, Community Awareness and Emergency Response.

As with all management system an RCMS relies on the strong commitment of leadership for its success. RCMS is a collection of best practices of the leading chemical companies incorporated into a management system for betterment of the chemical industry as a whole and the stakeholders. Companies that choose in implement an RCMS gain additional benefits in additional to environmental management. RCMS enables organizations to manage chemicals responsibly while ensuring better work environment for all personnel.

The use of a management system also enables cost savings and efficiencies from reduced process waste. RCMS is based upon eight guiding principles. These include incorporation of legal requirements, management of risk, Information communication, training, documentation, emergency response, continual improvement, and community interaction. While an RCMA focuses on hazards and risks, RC14001 focuses on aspects and impacts. RCMS does not require any annual surveillance but does require recertification every three years.

RCMS in its latest revision in 2019 included the requirement “The organization shall take into account operational energy efficiency and waste minimization, reuse and recycling when identifying its hazards and prioritizing its risks.” This aligns with the ISO 14001 life cycle perspective. To meet this requirement organizations needs to document the risks and well as the risk methodology used to assess the risks.

As with ISO 14001, RCMS too requires organizations to assess the context of the organization and to adjust this policy and objectives to align with the changing context and changing business strategy. As of January 1, 2019, all ACC members are required to implement the RC security code, the product safety code, the process safety code. In addition, they also have to report on ACC required performance metrics annually. 

RCMS like RC14001 and ISO 14001, will need processes in place for corrective action and management reviews. Personnel need to be training to understand the requirement of the specification and the role they play in the success of the system. RCMS once in place and with the certification is a great way to demonstrate to stakeholders the organizations commitment to ethical corporate governance and sustainability.