The title almost goes without saying. My four kids, ranging in ages from six to 16, certainly have not before lived through a trying time like we are today. The uncertainty that exists with the continuing spread of the coronavirus and the real possibility of us entering an economic recession, or worse, make these unsettling times to say the very least. We at NACD are doing our best to ensure there is at least a little stability during these troubling times by providing you with the latest developments.
You’d be surprised to find that most employees are motivated by similar things. And likewise, most management teams are looking to implement solutions that coalesce around a similar set of goals — including attracting, hiring, and retaining talent that will align with the strategy and goals of their organization. And above all, produce results. So how do you achieve that? Here’s a few ideas I had the opportunity to present at NACD’s Southern Region Meeting last month that should get you going in the right direction.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – the April 18, 2020, expiration of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program is rapidly approaching, and Congress currently does not have passable bipartisan, long-term reauthorization legislation in sight. Once again, similar to how the 15-month CFATS program extension played out in January 2019, Congress finds itself with its back against the wall trying to beat the clock and pass legislation ensuring the continuation of this important security program that maintains near-unanimous support on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. Congress often finds itself immobile. Though our capital faces no shortage of legislators with novel ideas and a genuine desire to improve our nation, it also has disagreement and partisanship in surplus. It is increasingly clear that through Congress’ inaction, state governments are taking matters into their own hands. For this reason, NACD is for the first time rolling out an organized state-level advocacy strategy to engage on these emerging issues where we can be most effective.
In the next few weeks, NACD member companies will be sent our annual Membership and Safety Questionnaire. As part of the survey, NACD members are asked to provide data on economic metrics like their employment and sales numbers as well as safety metrics like the number of reportable incidents onsite or in transit and lost workdays due to injury. Last year’s Membership and Safety Report highlights some of the topline data on our industry, and this year’s report will update those numbers as well as offer a look at some additional data points new to the survey.
Faced with ever-changing rules and regulations, chemical distributors face plenty of challenges when offering goods or services across borders or territories. To help you understand the latest requirements, NACD’s upcoming spring Regulatory Workshop will focus on international trade and will provide an invaluable update on the latest developments to help ensure you’re meeting your obligations.
As chemical distributors, we operate in a constantly changing legislative and regulatory environment. The beginning of a new year is a great opportunity to reflect on our top priorities and what we need to achieve our goals in the coming year.
By John Dunham, John Dunham & Associates
Reliability is a critical part of any supply chain. As chemical distributors, you owe it to the folks that depend on your products to have a plan for everything — even the unthinkable like natural disasters. While there is little you can do to prevent these events, there is plenty you can do to prepare for them and mitigate the worst effects of disruption for your customers and your business.
Ask ten people what “sustainability” means to them and you’ll get ten different answers. Ask those same people how they apply it to their business, and you’ll no doubt get many more. To get a clearer definition of how chemical distributors interpret this increasingly important issue, NACD has decided to survey its members and formulate a plan of action to provide guidance and practices of excellence.
As a part of the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to charge fees to chemical manufacturers and importers for the risk evaluations of chemicals in commerce. In late 2019, EPA designated as final 20 high-priority chemicals which now move directly into the risk evaluation process.