Chemical Process and Production takes our Health, Safety and Environmental responsibilities very seriously. Our president
Greg Ploss is passionate about doing things by the book, which not only lowers our risk – but yours.
This hasn’t stopped us from applying innovative thinking to issues other than streams though. The way we partnered with the State of Texas to remediate our own groundwater issue is a
perfect example.
Health and Safety
CP&P maintains a positive status with the TCEQ and always has.
We are 100% OSHA 300 compliant. Not just because Greg demands it, but because our team does. This little anecdote sums it up best. One of our team members will stop what he’s doing if he sees anybody using his cell phone in an undesignated area, and pretty much read them “the riot act.” A good deed gone too far? Well, not at Chemical Process and Production. There is little that’s more important to us than the health and safety of our employees.
And the record speaks for itself:
- Passed TCEQ audit with no violations
- Every permit is up to date and in force.
- Very light OSHA 300 log – a broken ankle in 2000 is our most severe occurrence
- Teams work in two-man crews and are very mindful of each other – and the rules – at all times
- Yearly OSHA training for all employees covering: lock-out, tag out; confined space entry, and at least a half dozen of the most critical safety requirements for chemical plants like ours.
The Environment
CP&P is not only committed to keeping our employees safe and healthy, but to keeping our environment that way too. Perhaps our best example is the story of our own remediation project.
In the early 2000’s we were moving some dirt, sampled it, and found it contained a very low level of contamination. As a result, Greg immediately contacted the State, and wheels were put into motion to remediate our property.
As you most likely know, remediations like this are traditionally handled via water catching systems that pump contaminated groundwater to treatment facilities. Since the State was interested in piloting a green solution, this became a perfect program to partner on.
In a nutshell, in lieu of ditches and tile, we planted a grove of
Eucalyptus trees, which consume upwards of 50 gallons of water per tree, per day. By placing them strategically around the contaminated area, it controls the groundwater gradient. Strategically interspersed throughout were deep rooted Prairie Grasses, which actually metabolize the organic contaminants.
To date, CP&P and the State of Texas are pleased with the results of this remediation and hope that it can be a model that the State can use in similar circumstances.