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RCMS® and RC14001®
Responsible Care®
Many industries have recognized the importance of placing a high priority on the protection of the environment, their employees and the public. Doing so supports an ethical approach to business and demonstrates good corporate citizenship. In the chemical industry, the framework most widely used by companies to manage and achieve continual improvement in their safety, health and environmental performance is known as Responsible Care®.
What is Responsible Care®?
Responsible Care® is the chemical industry's global initiative under which companies work together to continuously improve their health, safety and environmental performance, and to communicate with stakeholders about their products and processes. The initiative is implemented in more than 50 nations and is led by members of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA).
What is Responsible Care® Certification?
In 2002, the Unites States' representative in ICCA, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), established a requirement that, for continued ACC membership, member companies and partners must achieve independent certification of their Responsible Care management systems. There are two certification options that companies can pursue: RCMS® or RC14001®.
What are RCMS® and RC14001®?
RCMS®
The Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) specification establishes a set of management system principles and requirements to consolidate and enhance implementation of the established Guiding Principles and Codes of Management Practice. Like RC14001®, RCMS® follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act management system model; however it uses a structure and terminology that are familiar to ACC members. It also provides more flexibility than RC14001® in specifying how requirements in certain areas can be met. Companies certifying to RCMS® are audited once in every three year cycle. This audit covers the company headquarters and a sample of their manufacturing units.
RC 14001®
The Responsible Care 14001® (RC14001®) specification was developed specifically to allow companies to simultaneously meet their Responsible Care® commitments while also certifying to the internationally recognized Environmental Management System Standard, ISO 14001. RC14001® uses generic terminology; however, by effectively bringing together RCMS® and ISO 14001, RC14001® creates a rigorous and broad set of requirements that drives a company to achieve performance excellence in its environment, health, safety, and security programs. Companies certifying to RC14001 follow the established process for ISO 14001. This process comprises an initial assessment, regular surveillance visits at 6-month or annual intervals and certificate renewal audits every three years. For large companies operating across multiple locations, the assessment may also cover a larger sample of sites than is required for RCMS®.
How can certification benefit my organization?
Implementing Responsible Care® helps create a systematic framework in which organizations drive continual improvement. External certification of the system provides the added benefits of an independent, expert evaluation through which confidence in the performance of the system is enhanced and opportunities for further improvement are identified, creating a competitive advantage for your organization.
There are numerous benefits associated with a responsible care management system:
- Legal and regulatory compliance – RCMS® and RC14001® provide systematic approaches for companies to meet current legal and regulatory requirements and also to be in a position to identify and comply with future legislation. Better compliance will result in fewer fines and penalties
- Best Practice – RCMS® and RC14001® reflect global consensus on good practice for managing the risks associated with the manufacture, transport and use of chemical products. The requirements of the standard can be applied pragmatically by organizations, whatever their particular circumstances.
- Reduced costs – The performance gains from implementing a management systems approach to Responsible Care® can frequently be measured in terms of reduced costs. Potential for cost reduction includes lower energy usage, waste reduction, increased recycling and, lower raw material and consumable costs.
How can we gain certification?
We provide a range of services, including assessment and training courses, to prepare you for certification. Our certificates are truly earned and are a reliable and transparent symbol of management achievement and a commitment to continual improvement.
- Contact one of our business advisors at 1-866-563-4654.
- Alternatively, complete the inquiry form on this website.
- For RC14001® training and development options, please visit our responsible care training section.
Why Choose LRQA?
At LRQA, we are passionate about what we do, and we understand what's at stake for your business. We work hard to apply our expertise to make your management systems more efficient and effective. We think outside of the confines of the management system to identify and measure its effects on your business. It's part of our standard of performance.
- Reputation and Experience – - We have worked with businesses like yours since 1985, issuing over 12 approvals at more than 33 sites to RCMS® and RC14001®.
- Assessor Expertise – We use a unique qualification coding system that matches our assessors' industry knowledge and expertise with your business needs enabling them to conduct an effective and robust audit of your system.
- Assessment Methodology – Our assessments focus on the area and issues that are important to your business. We view the process as more than just certification; we view it as a Business Assurance process that helps you assure key stakeholders that you can deliver on the promises and goals you make.
- Assessment Reports – We will provide helpful and insightful overviews in the Executive Summary, tracking of improvements in key areas in the Continual Improvement logs, and advanced views of your long term assessment plan.
- Extensive range of services – We can provide your organization with assessment, certification and verification services to support your organization's future growth and development. In addition, our comprehensive training courses offer the tools you need to prepare, implement, maintain and improve your management system.
- Integrated Assessments – We will work with you to reduce costs through the effective integration of management system assessments.
- Global Capabilities – We have over 2,000 employees offering assessments in over 30 languages. We operate a single system worldwide, which ensures that our certification process is consistent from any of our offices around the world.
LRQA Business Assurance Approach
Our Business Assurance approach to management systems assessment and reporting is unique; it's an approach that enables you to demonstrate how your system is helping to drive your business forward in a measurable and verifiable way. We believe that building trust stretches far beyond the issuing of certificates. It's about us enabling you to deliver on your promises, to be confident in your capabilities and to stand out from the crowd.
Through Business Assurance, we can help you determine whether your management system:
- helps your business to be more competitive
- supports your business objectives
- supports continual improvement
- improves stakeholder satisfaction
Read more about Business Assurance.
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