Corporate Stewardship

Cerilliant is strongly committed to providing a safe and healthful environment for its employees and to protecting the environment. These objectives are accomplished through strict adherence to Cerilliant's written safety programs, the use of emergency alarm systems, personal protective equipment, sophisticated laboratory controls, and conservative waste management.

Cerilliant uses or produces in combination over 3,500 different chemicals or chemical mixtures. To adequately address the health and safety concerns of such diverse chemical usage, all employees are trained in hazard communication, emergency evacuation, and fire safety upon employment. More specialized training is provided for personnel depending on job description. This training may include: respiratory protection, chemical hygiene, material handling, gas safety, bonding /grounding, and waste management. All employees are provided safety orientation upon employment and OSHA mandated training is repeated at the prescribed intervals. Medical monitoring is required for all staff involved in the synthesis of chemicals. Other staff members are included in the program based on their job responsibilities.

Due to the diversity of the chemicals handled in the facility, standard operating procedures have been implemented to address the safety requirements for classes of compounds, specifically explosives, flammable materials, and dioxins. Materials that are outside the scope of the established classes have project specific instructions in the production batch record that may include proper personal protective equipment, handling, and first aid instructions. Before new projects are initiated a safety review is performed by the Health and Safety Director to ensure that the work can be performed safely and that the proper safety equipment is available.

The facility is equipped with several different types of equipment that are used for employee and environmental protection. Cerilliant's synthesis suites are negative pressure, controlled environments with sophisticated air handling and ventilation systems. These suites are compartmentalized into smaller rooms (isolation suites) that are negative to the surrounding room to further isolate toxic materials from the general work areas. These suites are also equipped with safety showers, eyewashes, and spill kits for quick decontamination and spill control in emergency situations. Cerilliant provides shower facilities for its production personnel.

For fire protection and suppression the facility is outfitted with ABC fire extinguishers, a water based sprinkler system, Class D extinguishers (where combustible metals are in use) and a monitored fire alarm. This equipment meets all current standards and is inspected at the prescribed intervals. The facility is also equipped with an emergency laboratory alarm system (independent of and in addition to the fire alarm system) to facilitate quick response in the event of an emergency. This system consists of visual alarms that correspond to different hazardous areas and an audible alarm to signal for assistance in an emergency. The emergency buttons are distributed over 16 locations in the facility for easy, quick access during an emergency. This alarm system is monitored after normal business hours in case an emergency arises when minimal staff may occupy the building. The facility also has two 30 minute SCBA units and select staff members are trained on the use of this equipment semi-annually.

Cerilliant's staff includes 25 or more members trained in basic first aid and CPR as well as general emergency response. The production areas are equipped with easily accessible first aid kits for use in an emergency or general first aid needs. Blood bourn pathogen kits are also provided to further protect employees.

Cerilliant is registered as a large quantity waste generator with the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Cerilliant is committed to making a minimal impact on the environment and as a result uses incineration as the primary disposal method for laboratory wastes whenever possible. Chemical recycling is also employed in process where permitted and feasible. Hazardous waste is stored onsite in EPA approved chemical storage buildings outfitted with grated floors and sumps to collect any potential spills and prevent contamination of the outside environment. These chemical storage buildings are also equipped with fire suppression systems in the event of a fire and emergency alarm systems in the event of employee distress. Cerilliant is proud to say that two TCEQ inspections in the past six years have resulted with no violations and it has had no OSHA recordable work-related injuries or illnesses during the most recent reporting year. Cerilliant is proactive in implementing programs aimed at reducing our environmental impact including its recycling programs for paper, glass, and aluminum and the recent installation of a state-of-the-art HVAC control system designed to minimize electricity consumption.