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Ross Environmental Services has long recognized and addressed the need for strong safety and compliance programs. This emphasis on safety and compliance extends beyond Ross Environmental to all of the suppliers that the company uses to store, treat and dispose of its customers' waste streams.
Ross Environmental conducts safety and compliance audits of each of the suppliers in its technology network to ensure that they are meeting appropriate regulatory standards. In addition, Ross Environmental provides oversight to the safety, health and environmental programs implemented at Ross Incineration Services, Inc. (RIS)and Ross Transportation Services, Inc. (RTS).
Ross Incineration is regulated under several different programs that govern health and safety. The company complies with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The United States and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies conduct regular inspections of the RIS facility to be certain the company is operating in compliance with its permits and regulatory requirements.
The Ohio EPA has an on-site inspector who maintains an office at the facility and who has authority to be at the site at any time.
Ross Transportation complies with DOT, EPA and OSHA regulations governing safe transport of waste materials. The company has received the highest Federal Highway Administration safety rating and is fully insured, with excess liability limits, for the protection of customers. Ross Transportation's professional drivers are trained in DOT, EPA and OSHA regulations and have logged millions of safe-driving miles. They attend quarterly driver training updates.
RTS also participates in OSHA's Cooperative Compliance Program (CCP). As a part of OSHA's CCP, the State of Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, Division of Onsite Consultation conducts an annual comprehensive safety and health inspection of the facility.
Recently, Ross Transportation Services was certified under OSHA's Safety, Health and Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). (Click here to see a copy of the certification.)
The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement of status that singles a company out as a model for worksite safety and health.
Ross Transportation is one of only 14 companies in the State of Ohio that have received recognition under this very selective OSHA program.
Sustainability
As companies that provide environmental services to our customers, the Ross companies are part of the solution to pollution. We protect the environment by providing environmental services to manufacturing companies and others.
We take our responsibility to environmental protection seriously. We have a commitment to minimize our own environmental impacts and to ensure that we are protecting human health and the environment. To learn more about our Sustainability Programs please click here to read our 2013 Sustainability Report.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Policy
- Our business success and our commitment to protection of human health and the environment are consistent and complimentary goals.
- We will demonstrate leadership in protection of human health and the environment in our workplace, marketplace and community.
- We will comply with all applicable safety, health and environmental regulations, and hold the broader goals of eliminating preventable injuries; preventing adverse environmental and health impacts; reducing wastes and emissions; and promoting resource conservation.
- Management and all employees are collectively and individually responsible and accountable for compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations, policies and procedures.
- We will communicate our safety, health and environmental achievements and challenges openly, honestly, clearly and professionally with employees, customers, our community and government agencies.
- This Policy will guide all our decisions and actions that have potential safety, health or environmental impacts.
Ross Incineration Services Safety, Health & Environmental Standards
Ross Incineration Services, Inc.(RIS) is committed to maintaining an environmentally sound, safe, healthy workplace for the protection of our employees, our community and our business interests. We believe that most occupational injuries, illnesses and safety and environmental incidents are preventable, and set zero as our ultimate goal for each of these.
RIS firmly believes that all employees are individually and collectively responsible for safety, health and environmental compliance. We expect full cooperation and participation in aspects of safety, health and environmental programs for all employees.
To accomplish this broad objective, we will:
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Train personnel in appropriate safe work practices, environmental program compliance, applicable regulatory and permit requirements, and RIS' established management practices. Reinforce this training through continuing education.
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Indoctrinate and instill in all personnel a commitment to assume personal responsibility and accountability for safety, health and environmental protection and compliance. Encourage all personnel to expect similar performance from coworkers.
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Strive to provide appropriate machinery and equipment and maintain it in safe working order.
- Maintain programs which promote prompt reporting and correction of all potential and actual unsafe conditions or environmental impacts.
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Periodically evaluate work processes and procedures in the context of safety, health and environmental impacts and make appropriate engineering and procedural changes.
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Incorporate compliance with these standards as an element of job requirements and individual performance appraisals. Take appropriate action with personnel exhibiting behavior inconsistent with these standards.
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Select contractors and vendors who demonstrate proper concern for safety, health and environmental protection.
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Ross Incineration Environmental Assessment Program Underway
Ross Incineration Services, Inc. (RIS) is committed to ensuring that past and present waste management practices do not have an adverse impact on the community or environment. The company has invested millions of dollars in the facility to be certain that its operations meet or exceed EPA requirements for safe waste management operations.
RIS has a comprehensive environmental assessment and monitoring program in place. Additionally, as a condition of its RCRA Operating Permit granted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ross Incineration is participating in the Corrective Action program. Through this program, the company is enhancing its comprehensive monitoring efforts to provide further assurances that it has operated in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment.
The Corrective Action program is intended to make certain that past waste management practices do not have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. Ross Incineration has participated in the program since 1989 and has completed an investigation of its site to determine if there has been any release to the environment.
One component of RIS' environmental assessment program includes the evaluation of groundwater at more than 60 wells strategically placed throughout the facility. In addition, routine groundwater monitoring at the facility has provided thousands of individual pieces of groundwater data collected over more than 20 years. The company has tested groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment for more than 200 hazardous substances to characterize the Ross Incineration facility. All of this information was submitted to the Ohio EPA in April of 2009 in RIS' RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) Report.
In a letter dated June 10, 2011, the Ohio EPA approved RIS' RFI report which concluded the investigative and reporting phase of the Corrective Action program. Because the Corrective Action program is part of RIS' Ohio Part B RCRA permit, the Ohio EPA has indicated that they will implement a permit modification to memorialize the program. RIS and Ohio EPA will utilize the findings of the RFI Report to determine controls to further minimize risks. More information will be provided to the community as RIS and Ohio EPA move through this process.
 Corrective Action
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ISO 14001 and the Ross companies
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental organization made up of national standards institutes from over 162 countries to become the world's largest developer/publisher of standards. To date, ISO has developed over 17,500 different global standards which are intended to create solutions that meet both 1) the requirements of business and 2) the broader needs of society.
ISO 14001:2004 is a specific standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). Implementation of an ISO 14001:2004 compliant EMS enables an organization to develop a policy and objectives which take into account applicable legal requirements, and it applies to those environmental aspects that the organization can control and influence.
The key benefits of a working EMS include:
- improved environmental performance
- reduced liability
- competitive advantage
- improved compliance
- reduced costs
- enhanced associate involvement
- improved public image
- enhanced customer trust
- ability to meet customer requirements
To that end, the Ross companies have developed EMS' which have been awarded internationally recognized ISO 14001:2004 certifications from an independent, third party ISO Registrar - CCAS Americas, Ltd. In addition, both Ross Environmental Services, Inc. and Ross Incineration Services, Inc. are audited by CCAS Americas, Ltd. every nine months to ensure that they are maintaining their EMS' in conformance with the ISO 14001:2004 Standard.
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Ross Environmental Services, Inc. &
Ross Incineration services, Inc.
ISO 14001 Safety, Health and Environmental Policies
Our business success and our commitment to protection of human health and the environment are consistent and complimentary goals. We will demonstrate leadership in protection of human health and the environment in our workplace, marketplace and community by adhering to the following guiding principles:
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COMPLIANCE: We will comply with all applicable safety, health and environmental laws and regulations, as well as other pertinent requirements, and will implement programs and procedures to assure compliance.
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PREVENTION: We will employ management systems and procedures to achieve the broader goals of eliminating preventable injuries; preventing adverse environmental and health impacts; reducing wastes and emissions; and promoting pollution prevention through resource conservation, recycling and reuse.
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ACCOUNTABILITY: Management and all associates are collectively and individually responsible and accountable for compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations, policies and procedures.
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COMMUNICATION: We will communicate our safety, health and environmental policy, achievements and challenges openly, honestly, clearly and professionally with associates, customers, our community and government agencies.
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CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT: We will continuously seek opportunities to improve our adherence to these principals, and will periodically review and report progress to our stakeholders.
Our actions will be consistent with this Policy and the Ross companies' Mission Statement, Vision and Values.
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OHSAS 18001 and the ross companies
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental organization made up of national standards institutes from over 162 countries to become the world's largest developer/publisher of standards. To date, ISO has developed over 17,500 different global standards which are intended to create solutions that meet both 1) the requirements of business and 2) the broader needs of society.
The British Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001:2007 standard which was adopted by ISO specifies the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OH&S MS). Implementation of an OHSAS 18001:2007 compliant OH&S MS enables an organization to develop a policy and objectives which take into account applicable legal requirements, and it applies to those occupational health and safety aspects that the organization can control and influence.
The key benefits of a working OH&S MS include:
- improved environmental performance
- reduced liability
- competitive advantage
- improved compliance
- reduced costs
- enhanced associate involvement
- improved public image
- enhanced customer trust
- ability to meet customer requirements
To that end, the Ross Incineration Services, Inc. has developed an OH&S MS which has been awarded an internationally recognized OHSAS 18001:2007 certification from an independent, third party ISO Registrar - CCAS Americas, Ltd. In addition, Ross Incineration Services, Inc. is audited by CCAS Americas, Ltd. every nine months to ensure that it is maintaining its OH&S MS in conformance with the OHSAS 18001:2007 Standard.
Ross Incineration services, Inc.
OHSAS18001occupational health and safety management system (OH&SMS).
OHSAS 18001 is an Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series for health and safety management systems. It is intended to help an organization to control occupational health and safety risks. It was devloped in response to widespread demand for a recognized standard against which to be certified and assessed.
The 5 Key Elements of Ross Incineration Services, Inc. OHSAS 18001 Policy include:
- COMPLIANCE: Maintaining procedure(s) for periodically evaluating compliance with applicable legal requirements.
- PREVENTION: Identifying and correcting problems. Preventing recurrence.
- ACCOUNTABILITY: Establishing roles and responsibilities for occupational health and safety management, and providing appropriate resources.
- COMMUNICATION: Establishing internal / external communications on OH&S issues.
- CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT: Periodically reviewing the OH&S MS with an eye to adequacy, effectiveness and continuing suitability.
Our actions will be consistent with this Policy and the Ross companies' Mission Statement, Vision and Values. |
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