EHS Management

EHS Policy

National Semiconductor's EHS Policy states our commitment to the health and safety of our employees, protection of the environment, compliance with regulatory requirements and continual improvement of our EHS performance. EHS Policy (pdf).

EHS Management Systems

To implement the EHS Policy, National has built an EHS management system embodied in a set of internal EHS Standards. Our EHS Standards apply to National's operations worldwide. These EHS Standards represent National's minimum requirements for employee health and safety programs, environmental protection and EHS management. Our EHS Standards require compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and the implementation of detailed written procedures to achieve, monitor, and maintain compliance. Additionally, National's manufacturing facilities have EHS management systems certified to ISO 14001:2004, the international standard for environmental management systems, and the OHSAS 18001:1999 occupational health and safety management systems specification. EHS Standards ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 Certificates

EHS Training

Ergonomics Training Slide - Arlington, Texas

A knowledgeable workforce is necessary for effective EHS programs and EHS management systems. National's facilities have comprehensive EHS training programs, which include topics such as chemical safety, hazardous waste management, electrical safety and hazardous energy control, ergonomics, personal protective equipment, and many more. Our EHS training classes are designed to meet the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 and our EHS Standards. Beyond these requirements, EHS training addresses unique, site specific issues or EHS performance improvement.

Communications

The free flow of EHS information throughout an organization is critical for success. Employees must understand the company's commitment to protecting their health and safety and the environment and its expectations of employees. In addition, employees must be able to report EHS concerns without fear of reprisal. National’s employees have this ability through our formal procedures, which include methods for anonymous reporting. We employ various methods at National to facilitate and promote EHS communication. Our facilities have EHS committees with representatives from both the workforce and management. EHS committees provide a forum for communicating workplace EHS issues, employee concerns and management expectations. These committees foster EHS ownership throughout the organization and help identify opportunities for improvement. We use a variety of media such as our intranet, email, closed circuit TV, management communication meetings, newsletters and posters to provide employees with current EHS information. In addition, National encourages EHS excellence through local events such as our Greenock, Scotland plant's annual "Breakfast for Champions" celebration of EHS champions.

2006 Breakfast for Champions celebration - Greenock, Scotland

Crisis Management & Emergency Response 

National's Crisis Management Plan contains emergency plans to respond to events or conditions, which have a global impact on the company. This plan addresses crises relating to people; property and products; alternative manufacturing and business continuity; the supply chain; and financial, regulatory and political related issues. The plan is implemented in three phases. First, events or conditions that could constitute a crisis are assessed. We then respond with appropriate actions to mitigate the crisis and to protect employees, the community and the company. Finally we establish business recovery measures to minimize the impact of the crisis on our business and our customers. Each facility has emergency operation centers and site specific crisis management plans addressing employee safety and welfare, environmental protection, site evacuation and the safe shut-down and restart of operations.

National's Business Continuity Plans and procedures are amended regularly or as dictated by global economic conditions and other factors. Although National will not distribute Business Continuity Plans outside the company, customers are welcome and encouraged to review referenced documentation during on-site assessments and visits. For a more detailed overview of National's Business Continuity Plans, please see the Business Continuity Guide for Customers.

We have emergency response teams (ERT) trained and equipped to respond to chemical spills; gas leaks; incipient fires; people requiring first aid, CPR and AED and other site specific emergencies. We have good working relationships with local emergency response agencies, request their assistance when necessary, and periodically conduct joint training and drills.

EHS Audits

Our operations are audited by facilities' internal assessors, the Corporate EHS staff and third-party auditors to monitor compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, internal EHS Standards and ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 and to identify areas for improvement. Audit results are reported to management. Corrective action plans are developed, implemented and tracked to completion. We use the 8D Team Oriented Problem Solving methodology to identify root causes and corrective actions.

Regulatory Agency Citations

In the past five years, National received two EHS regulatory agency citations and fines.

In March 2003, National was cited by US OSHA and paid a $5,000 fine for incorrectly labeling wafer fabrication process equipment parts after removal for cleaning. We quickly corrected the problem and changed our parts cleaning and labeling procedures.

In May 2002, CETESB, the environmental protection agency of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil imposed an administrative penalty against National's subsidiary in Brazil in the amount of UFESP 5000, or approximately US$34,000 for improper waste disposal at the Mantovani/CETRIN industrial landfill in Sao Paulo State in 1984 by a company subsequently acquired by National. In July 2002, National's subsidiary signed a consent agreement with CETESB and joined with other potentially responsible multinational companies to implement emergency measures and fund a study for a site remediation plan. CETESB is suspending the penalty during the term of the Consent Agreement.