INTRODUCTION. Responsible Care

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1 INTRODUCTION Responsible Care Responsible Care is the global chemical industry s comprehensive environment, health and safety performance improvement initiative. It is developed, adopted and managed by chemical associations along with their member companies to continuously improve environmental, health and safety (EHS) performance of their operations and products in a manner responsive to the concerns of the public. Responsible Care was first adopted as a new model for the management of chemicals by the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) in 1985 and has since been adopted by chemical associations in more than 60 economies. Responsible Care is the basis of significant cultural change within the chemical industry which leads to improved performance and new levels of dialogue with the public about issues of mutual concern. The global chemical industry has embraced Responsible Care because it is viewed as good citizenship with a positive impact on companies performance, economic bottom line and competitiveness. For the individual company, implementation of Responsible Care leads to improved efficiency, lower environment, health, safety and security costs and improved relations with stakeholders. For the global chemical industry, successful implementation of Responsible Care demonstrates an appropriate public policy which protects its license to operate and its ability to innovate and meet society s demands for its products. For the public, successful implementation of Responsible Care ensures that the chemical industry will continue to provide beneficial products to society and continually reduce its impacts, while maximizing its positive contributions to human health, the economy and society. One of the key tenets of Responsible Care is openness and responsiveness to public and other stakeholder concerns about the management of chemicals. Therefore, the chemical industry has a keen appreciation of the need to seek input from the public and other interested groups, include this input in its development of policies, programs and priorities, and report on its progress in these areas. RC14001 Note: In a number of countries, including the United States, security is a component of Responsible Care. RC14001 was originally developed by the ( for use by its members and Responsible Care Partners as part of its Responsible Care certification process and reflects ACC program priorities (e.g., Security, Product Safety, etc.). The RC14001 Technical Specification combines the elements of the s ( ACC ) Responsible Care initiative with those of the ISO Environmental Management System, adopted by the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) in 1996 and as amended in RC14001 enables an organization to obtain, through an application and audit process, a certification that its management system conforms to both the ISO standard and a broader scope of Responsible Care elements. October

2 For ACC s members and Responsible Care Partners, RC14001 certification, in accordance with established requirements, allows them to meet the Council s certification requirements. The RC14001 Technical Specification document consists of the actual text of ISO and additional text in corresponding boxed sections. These boxed sections include the additional Responsible Care elements required under the RC14001 scope. ACC believes that conformance to RC14001 can assist organizations in achieving the desirable goals and objectives set forth in both Responsible Care and ISO Copies of RC14001:2015 can be obtained at RC14001 Outside the Chemical Industry While originally developed by ACC for use by its companies, RC14001 is applicable and available on a worldwide basis to organizations regardless of their operations. ACC encourages the use of RC14001 if it meets an organization s business needs. Organizations outside the ACC membership seeking RC14001 certification must conform to the requirements of the Technical Specification and other requirements set forth in this procedure document. Certification bodies seeking to provide RC14001 certification must likewise conform to the requirements set forth in this procedure and obtain accreditation from an ACC-designated accreditation body. Information links on accreditation bodies authorized by ACC to provide accreditation services and accredited certification bodies can also be found on An organization which obtains RC14001 certification may identify itself as being RC14001 certified within the scope of its management system. RC14001 certification does not confer any rights to use the Responsible Care logo or to identify the organization as a Responsible Care entity. Use of the Responsible Care logo and name are restricted to companies which meet the Responsible Care membership and program requirements established by national and regional chemical federations. A listing of chemical federations with recognized Responsible Care programs can be found in the RC14001:2015 Technical Specification (Annex C). Membership in one of these national or regional chemical federations does not necessarily mean that the organization is a participant in Responsible Care and eligible to use the name and logo. October

3 1.0 PURPOSE To ensure that the RC14001 certification process sustains public confidence and acceptance by defining the requirements for accreditation bodies (ABs), certification bodies (CBs), organizations seeking RC14001 certification and. 2.0 SCOPE This procedure applies to: Accreditation bodies accrediting certification bodies for RC14001 purposes Certification bodies providing RC14001 certification services Organizations seeking certification to RC TERMS AND DEFINITIONS (ACC) the primary trade association representing the business of chemistry in the United States. It is the sponsor of Responsible Care in the United States ( Responsible Care a global environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative which was first adopted in Canada in The initiative s goals are continual improvement and responsiveness to stakeholders concerns about the chemical industry s products and operations. RC An option for certification under the ACC s Responsible Care initiative. The requirements for RC14001 can be found in ACC s document numbered RC151 (current version). RC14001 certification is available to any organization regardless of sector, affiliation or geographic location. 4.0 RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1 Accreditation Bodies Accreditation services for RC14001 shall be limited to those International Accreditation Forum members authorized by ACC Authorization shall be based on ACC s assessment of the accreditation body s knowledge of Responsible Care and the requirements of RC14001; evidence that its assessors have attended and passed an approved Responsible Care auditor training course and completed any additional ACC-required awareness/education training (e.g., webinars, workshops, exams, etc.,). October

4 4.1.3 Authorized accreditation bodies roles and responsibilities shall be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with ACC The accreditation body shall identify a designated liaison for communications with ACC ACC reserves the right to review accreditation bodies assessors during CBs office and/or field audits Accreditation Bodies seeking to offer RC14001 services shall contact ACC (See Reference Links in Appendix 3) for information about the process and steps for gaining authorization to accredit. 4.2 Certification Bodies Certification bodies providing RC14001 certification services shall meet the requirements of ISO/IEC (current version) and other relevant ISO/IEC procedures; requirements of this ACC procedure; and relevant requirements of other ACC procedures identified in this document The CB shall ensure that all auditors providing RC14001 certification services meet the requirements of ACC document RC205 (current version) CBs conducting audits outside of North America may utilize guidance found in Appendix 1 to identify audit team members The CB shall ensure that audit schedules are consistent with guidance provided in Appendix 2 of this document regarding audit duration The CB shall ensure that all personnel engaged in RC14001 services (sales, marketing, oversight, etc.,) understand the requirements for RC14001 certification CBs offering RC14001 services to ACC members and ACC Responsible Care Partners shall ensure that auditors and other personnel engaged in RC services are familiar with ACC document RC501 (Requirements for ACC Members and Responsible Care Partners current version) and its requirements Certification designations shall be to ( : (year representing current version) ) Certificates issued for RC14001 shall not include: October

5 The Responsible Care logo (hands and molecules) Responsible Care trademark. The term Responsible Care ISO inclusion CBs shall have the option of including a reference to ISO certification within the text of a RC14001 certificate CBs accredited for RC14001 shall designate a member of their staff as a primary contact with ACC The CB shall ensure that the ACC has access, upon request, to RC14001 audits for observation purposes. The CB shall communicate this situation to potential clients. 4.3 Organizations Seeking RC14001 Certification Organizations seeking RC14001 certification shall demonstrate conformance to the requirements found in the RC14001 Technical Specification (RC151 current version) Organizations seeking RC14001 certification shall only employ CBs accredited to conduct RC14001 audits An organization which obtains RC14001 certification shall identify itself as being : (year representing current version) certified within the scope of its management system RC14001 certification does not confer any rights to use the Responsible Care logo or to identify the organization as a Responsible Care entity Use of the Responsible Care logo and name are restricted to companies which meet the Responsible Care membership and program requirements established by national and regional chemical federations. Note: A listing of chemical federations with recognized Responsible Care programs can be found in the :2015 Technical Specification s Annex C. Membership in one of these national or regional chemical federations does not necessarily mean that the organization is a participant in Responsible Care and eligible to use the name and logo. October

6 4.3.4 While not required, ACC encourages organizations outside of its membership/partnership companies which have been certified to RC14001 to report the details of their audit (organization name, location, dates, contact person) to ACC for the purpose of tracking RC14001 s growth. See Appendix 3 for ACC contact information ACC members and Responsible Care Partners shall also conform to requirements found in RC501 (current version) The shall provide oversight for authorized Accreditation Bodies through periodic reviews of the Accreditation Bodies conformance to terms of their ACC Memorandum of Understanding ACC shall maintain a listing of authorized Accreditation Bodies, accredited CBs, and Responsible Care certification procedures on its public website at ACC shall ensure the proper and timely maintenance and updating of this and other relevant procedures ACC shall ensure timely communications of proposed changes to the RC14001 Technical Specification (RC151) to authorized Accreditation Bodies and CBs. 5.0 Records Generated ACC shall communicate information regarding supplemental auditor training requirements and, if necessary, deliver said supplemental training when warranted. Records required under ISO/IEC ACC-Accreditation Body Memorandum(s) of Understanding Plans for audits conducted under provisions found in Appendix 1. (Audits conducted outside North America) List of approved Certification Bodies (ACC website Reference Documents ISO Conformity Assessment Requirements for Bodies Providing Auditing and Certification of Management Systems (current version) October

7 RC151 RC14001 (current version) Technical Specification RC205 (current version) - Responsible Care Certification Auditor Qualification and Training Requirements RC501 (current version) Requirements for ACC Members and Responsible Care Partners 7.0 Reference Links ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) (general information/responsible Care Certification Procedures and Service Provider information (To purchase copies of the RC14001 Technical Specification) October

8 Appendix 1 Conducting RC14001 audits outside North America recognizes and applauds the expansion of RC14001 use beyond its membership/partnership ranks to organizations across the globe. ACC seeks to support this continued growth through the expansion of RC14001 infrastructure including the number of qualified CBs and their auditors and approved auditor training course providers. ACC is also cognizant of the fact that outside North America an imbalance exists between the number of organizations seeking RC14001 certification and the number of available, locally-based and qualified auditors (those meeting requirements of RC205). This imbalance can add to the organization s certification costs if auditors must travel from the US or other regions to conduct the audit. To address situations where local RC14001 auditor resources may not be present, ACC has developed the following requirements for CBs seeking to service clients on a timely basis utilizing a mixed audit team approach with qualified Responsible Care auditors (meet requirements of RC 205) and locallybased ISO auditors. CBs offering RC14001 audit services outside North America (defined as United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean) and seeking to utilize the mixed audit team approach shall conform to the following requirements: 1. At least six weeks prior to the start of the RC14001 audit, the CB shall submit to ACC the following: a. Name of the organization and location which will be audited to RC14001 b. Other Management Systems, if any, which will be audited in conjunction with RC14001 (e.g., ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, etc.) c. Names of the audit team members indicating which auditor(s) is (are) qualified Responsible Care auditors i. The (a) qualified Responsible Care auditor shall be designated Team Leader ii. Other members of the audit team must be qualified, per CB s requirements, to audit for ISO iii. Translators and/or technical experts supporting the auditors shall not be considered part of the audit team d. Audit Plan including timeline and schedule indicating which sections of the RC14001 Technical Specification will be audited by each team member 2. Information submitted by the CB shall be reviewed by ACC within one week of receipt with an indication to the CB as to whether the audit can move forward or additional information is required. October

9 3. During the course of the audit, the qualified Responsible Care auditor(s), in addition to their other responsibilities, shall review Responsible Care requirements (found in boxes ) in the Technical Specification. Other members of the audit team will focus on other sections of the Technical Specification. ACC recognizes that clear lines between ISO s requirements and unique Responsible Care requirements may not always exist, but certain unique elements such as product safety and stewardship, stakeholder dialogue and employee involvement shall be reviewed by a qualified Responsible Care auditor. 4. The lead auditor (qualified Responsible Care auditor) shall be responsible for making the final recommendation regarding certification to the CB. 5. Following conclusion of the RC14001 audit, the ASP shall provide a report to ACC on any processrelated issue/challenges, if identified, which occurred during the course of the audit. 6. The CB shall maintain appropriate records of the audit. Audit plans and any information requests shall be forwarded to ACC at: Daniel Roczniak Senior Director, Responsible Care & VCO Dan_roczniak@americanchemistry.com October

10 Appendix 2 Establishing Auditor Time for RC14001 Audits When determining Auditor Time for RC14001 audits, the CB shall rely upon information in IAF Mandatory Document 5, Determination of Audit Time of Quality and Environmental Management Systems (current version), as the starting point for its calculations. RC14001 audit duration will utilize information related to IAF MD 5 s EMS tables. CBs shall add 20% additional time to the IAF totals to reflect the increased scope of the RC14001 management system s requirements. All other adjustments and formulas for determining audit duration found in IAF MD 5 s EMS section are valid for RC14001 audit calculations. October

11 APPENDIX 3 ACC Contact information For information regarding RC14001, please contact: Daniel Roczniak Senior Director, Responsible Care and Value Chain Outreach 700 Second Street NE Washington, DC Dan_roczniak@americanchemistry.com Inquiries may also be sent to ACC at: Responsible_Care@americanchemistry.com Copies of the RC14001 Technical Specification may be obtained at: October

12 APPENDIX 4 Accreditation Body As of September 2017, accreditation bodies which accredit for RC14001 include: ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) ANAB Contact Information Tina Garner Accreditation Manager, Management Systems 600 N. Plankinton, Suite 300 Milwaukee, WI tgarner@anab.org October

13 DOCUMENT CONTROL Name and Title Signature Date Written By: Owner: Approved By: ACC Procedures Task Force ACC Responsible Committee ACC Responsible Care Committee Andy Piper, Chair Maria Krysa, Chair Maria Krysa, Chair 9/15/ /30/ /30/2017 REVISION LOG REVISION NO: REASON FOR CHANGE(S): DATE: 01 This document along with new RC501 and RC502 replace previous RC201 and RC204 documents. 10/30/2017 October