Governance
Responsible Care® Implementation Requirements for CAIA Members
To uphold the principles of Responsible Care® in South Africa, all CAIA members - whether full or associate - must commit to a structured implementation process. This includes signing a formal declaration, appointing a Responsible Care® Management Representative, applying relevant Codes of Management Practice or SQAS-AFRICA, and undergoing both internal and third-party assessments. Members are also required to submit annual performance data, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in health, safety, and environmental management across the chemical lifecycle.
Reporting and Strengthening Performance
Reporting of KPIs is a key element of Responsible Care®. Signatories to Responsible Care® collect and submit data on their performance annually, using metrics developed by CAIA and its members. The objective is to allow CAIA to measure progress of its members and determine whether Responsible Care® is having a positive impact on industry performance.
CAIA launched a new online KPI platform and an updated questionnaire in 2024. The system is more user friendly and offers a new approach to uploading information with inbuilt calculations as well as verification, to mitigate inaccuracies of input and output data, as well as repeat submissions. The data enables CAIA to track the industry’s performance and report it publicly to stakeholders as well as to ICCA. It is also used to determine the recipients of the various Responsible Care® awards.
Verification of Responsible Care® Implementation
CAIA has developed 11 Codes of Management Practice (CMP) and an Audit Guidance Document (AGD) for use by companies falling under the full member category. The AGD is a checklist used by members and CAIA-approved auditors during self-assessments and third-party audits.
Associate members, primarily LSPs, use SQAS-AFRICA questionnaires for self-assessments and third-party audits. The questionnaires are divided into four categories: Transport Service, Warehousing, Tank Cleaning and Spill Response. All four categories are commonly audited against a further Core Questionnaire.
Responsible Care® Self-Assessment Tool
CAIA joined the rest of the global Responsible Care® family in implementing the ICCA Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) in 2024 for full and associate members. This tool assists Responsible Care® signatories with getting a clear view of their own performance, frame their commitment and learn which actions to take to improve, using their own tailor-made solutions. It assists companies to strengthen safety and sustainability by aligning with the six elements of the Responsible Care® Global Charter.
Launched in Bonn, Germany, in September 2023, the web-based tool connects core Responsible Care® principles to global standards like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ISO 14001. Designed for chemical companies of all sizes, it provides a single, practical resource to drive continuous improvement in SHE and security performance worldwide.
