Security of Supply – Multiple Meanings, Maximum Commitment

By Cynthia Challener

In today’s world, security of supply has many meanings. Guaranteeing flow of product to customers, ensuring receipt of necessary raw materials, and implementing appropriate measures to protect people, goods, and equipment in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack are all aspects of transportation security. The chemical industry is also facing potential new security regulations that will apply to paint and coatings companies as well.

Despite the challenges these issues present, the paint and coatings sector has made a strong commitment to identify needed actions and follow through with the implementation of comprehensive programs to minimize the likeli­hood of the occurrence of any type of problems.

All sectors of the chemical industry take seriously the issue of maintaining security at their own facilities and for any transportation systems they utilize. The paint and coatings industry is no exception.

Trade associations such as the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA), the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), and the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) have developed various guidance documents to help their members imple­ment and maintain security programs, with implementation often necessary for continued membership.

The voluntary effort by the industry has been extensive. The NPCA, as part of its Coatings Care® program, has established both a transportation code and a security code for its members to implement. The transportation code includes, for example, practices for selecting and auditing carriers, issues to consider when setting up distribution facilities, risk management tips, rec­ommendations for evaluating and managing inventories, emergency re­sponse procedures, and training guidelines for hazardous materials trans­port. The group’s security code covers both site security and security of supply issues as well, and there is some overlap with the transportation code.