Establishing values of compliance
Tristar offers comprehensive safety at all times across chemical logistics
With a growing demand for chemical warehousing and logistics internationally, the UAE is attracting significant number of logistics companies, including chemical storage and transport, due to its geographical connectivity to the world by air and sea.
The commissioning of Tristar’s multilogistics polymers facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) South offers better time in market delivery because of the location’s direct access to Jebel Ali Port, Maktoum International Airport (DWC), and in the future, to Etihad Railways. The strategic location will give it an advantage when serving global customers for imports, exports and re-exports.
The facility is the first silo and bagging set-up of its kind inside JAFZA South, designed to receive bulk PP/PE granules into silos and bagging of granules by fully automated bagging operations into FFS film bags and/or big-bags. The packed FFS pallets can be stored at the warehouse for distribution.
The facility has a temperaturecontrolled chamber that is used for the storage of food grade, FMCG or other temperature-sensitive materials such as food emulsifiers, enzymes, vitamins and additives.
It also has a drum filling station with the capability to drum from ISO tanks, thus providing customers with a fully integrated solution to receive in bulk, and store and distribute in packed conditions.
The transportation of these drums are organised through Tristar’s transport fleet, and the empty tankers/ISO tanks released after drumming are then cleaned at the ISO Tank cleaning station within the same facility.
Partnership with key industry players
Skeberis Plastics is providing technical support to Tristar for the management and day-to-day bagging operations. The operating partnership between Tristar and Skeberis, in combination with its excellent location in Jebel Ali, is another milestone for both chemical and petrochemical industries, as the new facility offers unique opportunities for the optimisation of supply chain for producer and customer.
Incidentally, one of the world’s market leaders in chemical distribution, Brenntag from Germany, has a regional office at the facility through its joint venture with Trychem.
The partnership, which was established in the last quarter of 2015, combines Trychem’s local expertise and Brenntag’s international distribution knowledge, management know-how and sourcing strength. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to around 180,000 customers.
Safety and quality recognition by international groups
In 2015, Tristar received a 93 per cent score at three three-day Gulf Sustainability and Quality Assessment System (SQAS) audit held at its head office in Jebel Ali. The Gulf SQAS is a system to evaluate the quality, safety, security and environmental performance of logistics service providers (LSPs) and chemical distributors in a uniform manner by single standardised assessments carried out by independent assessors using a standard questionnaire.
The Gulf SQAS certificate is accredited by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). Tristar has a good working relationship with GPCA for the implementation of the Dangerous Goods Safety and the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road standards in the GCC.
Tristar has won the UK-based Occupational Health and Safety Award for five consecutive years and was presented the Gold Medal Award by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The company also received the Gold Award for Fleet Safety for its road safety records and safe driving culture during the awarding ceremonies.
Tristar possesses several ISO certifications including 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and 39001:2012, plus OSHAS 18001:2007. The warehouse at the head office was given a five-star rating under the DMCC-initiated Trade flow Programme.
Culture of safety
At Tristar, the management and implementation of stringent safety guidelines, international standards, best practices and learning new technologies are a continuous process. It follows a ‘Goal Zero’ policy and believe that all accidents are preventable.
The group ensures that its drivers comply with Hours of Service rules and obey speed limits. A CHEST (CHeck Every STep) programme to eliminate the 3Cs — Carelessness, Compromise and Complacency — has been in place for several years already. The programme was awarded the Best Safety Campaign Award of the year at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) event in the UK in 2013.
Tristar drivers and ground staff have been given “Stop Work” cards that they can show to a customer to immediately stop any unsafe work practices that could threaten the life of a person or endanger the environment.
Various safety permits are issued and maintained to ensure that operations are carried out in a safe manner. Tool Box Talk, weekly refresher training and safety meetings are held on a regular basis to ensure that the best possible job is carried out, while meeting the highest standards of safety. Safety walkabouts are performed on a periodic basis to make sure that safety procedures are being complied with.
Tristar is well positioned to continue to be a leading fully integrated liquid logistics provider in the region, offering customers a diverse range of services while continuing to operate to the highest health, safety and environmental standards.