Dow wins Inaugural Gulf Petrochemicals HSE Leadership and Innovation Award

The award was handed out at the recently concluded Gulf Petrochemicals HSE Symposium, part of the 4th annual Petchem Arabia conference organized by the World Refinery Association. The award recognizes companies that have made significant contributions to HSE standards in the Middle East. Frank Luijckx, Dow's Director of Business Services and Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) for Dow in India, the Middle East and Africa, accepted the award for the Company's innovative 'Drive to Zero' campaign. The awards ceremony followed a presentation made by Dan Rader, Dow's Director of Safety Expert Centers, on 'Next generation EH&S Thinking: Driving Sustainable Business Development'.

"At Dow, the safety of our employees, contractors and the communities we work in is always a top priority. Winning this prestigious award is testament to just how seriously we take this commitment. As part of our 2015 Sustainability Goals and the 'Drive to Zero' initiative, we are continuously looking at ways to improve our already stringent safety standards. The award is a matter of pride for all of us at Dow, because each and every one of us has made a personal commitment to 'Drive To Zero'."

Luijckx said.

"This program is unique in the sense that it seeks to instil a culture of ownership and accountability at all levels from company and business leaders to frontline plant operators," Rader said, explaining the 'Drive to Zero' initiative. "It ensures that annual ratings, bonuses and career opportunities are all intrinsic to maintaining a safe working environment." He added: "Accountability begins at the very top where business leaders set the performance vision, provide the resources to achieve them and hold both themselves and the organization accountable to our HSE goals at all times."

Created by Dow in 2006, 'Drive to Zero' aims to bring home the message of zero injuries by providing special emphasis on exceptional safety performance in all plants, offices, and work-places. The program aims to:
• Encourage increased employee vigilance and proactive identification, reporting, and/or correction of safety hazards or unsafe work practices within site operations
• Make safety on the job a source of pride among employees and foster healthy competition in the drive for greater safety
• Publicize acts of safety intervention and employee contributions to safety performance among all employees within the Site, and among all Dow employees to further raise employee safety awareness and encourage safe work practices.