FutureFuel Chemical Company Receives SOCMA Safety Recognition Award

FutureFuel Chemical Company received the prestigious Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) Safety Recognition Award last week in Charleston, SC. This award, presented at the annual SOCMA Summit, highlights the company's commitment to workplace safety and adherence to the highest industry standards.

The SOCMA Summit is an exclusive event that attracts key business leaders from the specialty chemical manufacturing sector located in North America. FutureFuel was acknowledged alongside SOCMA’s advisory board and industry peers during the event’s annual awards dinner.

SOCMA’s Safety Recognition Program recognizes specialty and chemical manufacturers for outstanding commitment to maintaining a safe work environment and consistently upholding the highest standards of safety practices.

To be considered for this award, FutureFuel submitted an application that provided detailed responses to a series of questions describing the company’s safety processes and protocols as well as other aspects of the facility and its operations. The criteria for the submission included information related to site’s safety record, process safety management (PSM) compliance, training, emergency response, incident investigation, root cause analysis, lessons learned, and other safety measures.

Brent Glenn (Process Engineering Director) and Jim Wilder (Commercial Operations Director) attended the event and received the award on behalf of FutureFuel.

“The SOCMA Safety Recognition Award underscores the importance of safety policies and procedures, and we are humbled to be acknowledged among the industry’s best,” said Kyle Gaither, P.E., Chief Operations Officer at FutureFuel. “This award is made possible by our highly experienced and dedicated team throughout our company, as we are committed to making safety the number one priority in all aspects of chemical manufacturing, whether it is small batch and large volume.”

FutureFuel's Commitment to Safety

Safety is a core value at FutureFuel. The company has fostered a robust safety culture that emphasizes continuous improvement, employee training, and adherence to industry best practices. Some of FutureFuel's key safety initiatives include:

• Process Safety Review Committee: A dedicated, multifunctional committee that oversees the company's process safety management (PSM) program.
• PHA Leaders: Trained professionals lead process hazard analysis (PHA) studies to identify and mitigate potential risks.
• Employee Training: All employees receive annual, comprehensive safety training, including onsite and offsite third-party led courses.
• Incident Investigation: Thorough investigations are conducted for all incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Process Hazard Evaluation Lab: The company operates a dedicated lab for process hazard evaluation, optimization, and scale-up.

The Importance of Safety in Chemical Manufacturing

The safe handling of chemicals is critical to the success of any chemical manufacturing company. By prioritizing safety, FutureFuel demonstrates its commitment to protecting its employees, the environment, and the community. This recognition from SOCMA further solidifies FutureFuel's position as a leader in the industry.