Union Pacific (UP) has recently earned its 20th American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care® Management System (RCMS) certification. The certification recognizes UP’s safe and secure handling of hazardous materials while transporting customer shipments.
Companies electing to become certified under the RCMS must meet the chemical industry’s global standards, address risks and consent to independent audits by certified inspectors. Companies must also pledge to operate according to a set of guiding and ethical principles.
Kari Kirchhoefer, UP’s vice president and general manager chemicals , stated, “Receiving the RCMS certification for two continuous decades reflects Union Pacific's commitment and is a tribute to our dedicated employees who handle our customers' products in the safest, most secure manner. We pledge to continue meeting or exceeding the chemical industry's standards.”
Non-chemical companies handling hazardous materials, such as railroads, were allowed to begin participating in 1995. UP was the first railroad to apply for the certification and received the rail industry's first RCMS certification in 1996.