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The SQAS - Safety and Quality Assessment System was developed by the European Chemical Industry Council CEFIC and the European Chemical Trade Association FECC. The system serves as an assessment method for logistics service providers and transport companies in the hazardous goods sector. It is available for different areas of transport/logistics, rail transport, tank cleaning, storage and the chemical trade (ESAD) and is applied with the help of standardized questionnaires.
Today's article is dedicated to the SQAS/ESAD. The European Single Assessment Document is aimed at the chemical industry and serves as a monitoring tool for a standardized performance assessment of distributors.
ESAD is not a certification, but a document that certifies the current status. It is aimed at the chemical trade and is an evaluation system with which the quality, safety and environmental standards of chemical distributors can be assessed. It creates a standardized assessment method and is a voluntary review of a company's own systems and processes. Based on the ESAD questionnaire, it helps suppliers to check the performance of distributors and compare it with their own standards.
The questionnaire is divided into four sections:
Standard activities of the distributor (Di)
Assessment of the site (S)
Chlorinated solvents (Cs)
Food, cosmetics and/or pharmaceuticals (F)
The approximately 800 questions are divided into four individual questionnaires based on the four sections. There is a commentary guide that explains how to use the individual questions.
Legal provisions
Risk management
Policy statements and documentation
Provision of information
Training
Emergency preparedness and assistance/emergency response
Continuous improvements
Communication with the public
4.3.2 Do you have a labeling procedure or fact sheets for transporting NON hazardous goods if this is part of a voluntary program?
Note from the questionnaire guide: In some countries, trade associations or competent authorities offer voluntary programs for the handling of non-hazardous goods that may be harmful to the environment. This takes the form of labeling bulk tankers and/or requiring drivers to carry information leaflets. If there are no voluntary programs, the question must be answered with N/A.
Structure of the S section
The site in general
Handling and storage of bulk products
Filling into IBCs, drums and small containers and mixing procedures
Handling and storage of packaged products
3.18 Are hoses used exclusively for one product, disconnected immediately after use and stored in dedicated containers?
HInwise from the questionnaire guide: The allocation of hoses to specific products is required. Assignment to a product group would still be acceptable (in connection with the risk of a reaction and product quality).
Introduction
Product stewardship - maintenance and care of product quality
General characteristics of the distribution chain/supply chain
Legal requirements and important guidelines
Storage
Repackaging (decanting)/handling
Transportation and loading/unloading of loose (unpackaged) products (goods)
Transportation and (out)delivery of packaged goods
Waste management
2.1.11. Is there a procedure in place to ensure that customers are advised/instructed on the specific requirements for the handling and use of chlorinated solvents?
Note from the questionnaire guide: Distributors are responsible for informing their customers about the proper use of chlorinated solvents as defined in laws and directives and in the technical literature on product safety, health and the environment and by the manufacturer. In doing so, distributors must inform users about state-of-the-art technologies that can be used for the safe handling of chlorinated solvents by the end user.
handling of chlorinated solvents at the end user (i.e. closed safety delivery systems, appropriate fixed piped solvent distribution systems, transfer over safe ground with minimal emissions). Procedural instructions must be available for this purpose.
General
Storage in tanks/silos (bulk)
Loading and unloading of unpackaged products
Transportation of unpackaged products
Packaging/filling
Storage and shipping of packaged/filled products
Product stewardship
Quality Management
Organization and employees
Premises
Warehousing
Equipment (general)
Documentation
Repackaging and relabeling
Complaints
Recalls
Returns
Dealing with products that do not conform to specifications
Shipping and transportation
(Re)awarding of contracts
6.1.2 Are filled, stored packages/containers subject to a shelf life
subject to a shelf life control system?
Warehouse management must proceed according to the "first in - first out" principle and an equivalent procedure must be used to control the product shelf life.
The ESAD is very supplier-oriented and is intended as a risk management tool to promote the introduction of and compliance with quality standards. Companies receive certification through an inspection by an independent inspection body. Based on the ESAD questionnaire, this body checks the condition of the retailer and produces a report.
An overview of all accredited inspection bodies, sorted by country, can be found on the SQAS website.
Christian Alsen was an IT consultant in the mid 2000's in manufacturing when he discovered that all companies do the same things with their suppliers but don’t do it as a team effort. Also, management didn't think about Supplier Relationships as a whole. Christian saw highly skilled people doing routine stuff and suffering. That's when he decided to do something about it. He started to build the ecratum SRM collaboration platforms. Now, 15 years and 100.000 companies later plus having gained a lot of experience, he is happy to work with his team on relatico.next the Simple Supply Chain Collaboration Platform
