Safety and environmental stewardship are among the very top priorities in our organization, and in fact, they work hand in hand. These priorities are reinforced by programs, which consist of processes and procedures tailored to fit the needs of our various operations while ensuring compliance and environmental stewardship. Each program is developed by our environmental, health and safety (EHS) professionals in conjunction with our operational teams to create a comprehensive process to protect our employees, contractors, local communities and the environment.
Our policies and programs strive to manage safety and environmental issues by clearly defining roles and responsibilities and outlining the process for sound decision-making, planning and communication. These policies and programs are internalized by our operating group and serve as compliance measures for our operations.
We have an extensive safety and environmental organizational structure that includes approximately 300 EHS professionals at the field, district and corporate levels who conduct regular site visits, mentor employees and provide frequently scheduled training. Flexibility within these programs allows regional issues to be addressed and efficiently managed. Our goal is to continuously reinforce personal responsibility with all employees and contractors, and to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as internal policies that govern our processes.
Employees receive extensive EHS training concerning the company’s policies and procedures to address the potential hazards and conditions present at our locations. These policies also state that employees have the right and responsibility to stop any work that they believe may adversely impact the environment or the health and safety of employees, contractors, vendors or the public.
In addition, our Emergency Response Plan (ERP) establishes the framework and response guidelines for designated Chesapeake employees and responders. The ERP outlines emergency procedures to minimize the impact to our employees, the communities in which we operate and the environment.