The Security Angle – Thoughts and References for Product Stewards

Potash Corp. is a mining and chemical company whose product stewardship program involves a variety of regulatory schemes, including national security. Deborah Allen, director, product stewardship and security, spoke to Product Stewardship 2017 attendees about how the company complies with security regulations, and how those programs interact with product quality and safety initiatives to strategically manage the company’s overall security risk.

The process begins at the development stage, with a review of security regulations and whether they apply to the product, including requirements set forth by the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFAT)

In addition to notifying various agencies, the company is also responsible for physical security, such as cable locks and tamper-proof seals on rail cars. It also includes tracking the product’s progress through the supply chain and ensuring the customer receives the shipment.

Potash’s product stewardship team also offers advocacy and product support. For instance, Allen had a customer who required a chemical that falls under the CFAT standard. The customer, not being aware of the requirements, hadn’t received letters from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the Top Screen survey. “So they were calling us about how to comply with the requirements,” she said. “That’s where the tie into product stewardship and security is.”

Compliance with security regulations is not just about safety. It’s also about protecting the company’s brand. How the public perceives a company affects the business, said Allen, so protecting the brand is tied to security by making sure products aren’t counterfeit and that the products are delivered safely to customers.

Allen ended the presentation by providing attendees with a list of sources for additional information:

On Chemicals

• Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
• Maritime Transportation Security Regulations
• Chemicals of Security Concern (Australia)

On Transportation

• Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
• Partners in Protection (PIP )
• Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)

Other Resources

• Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)
• InfraGard
• ASIS International
• IFA Protect & Sustain
• Chemical Weapons Convention, Annex of Chemicals
• Global Safety and Security – European Commission