Tristar, a transportation partner of leading science and technology company Dow Chemical, has completed the safety and quality assessment system (SQAS) certification process.

The certification, which is in line with Dow’s environmental, health and safety (EH&S) standards and is conducted by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), evaluates the quality, safety, security and environmental performance of logistics companies supplying the chemical industry.

At Dow’s recommendation, Tristar became the first logistics and transportation company in the Middle East and Africa to undergo the SQAS audit, a statement said.

From safe driving to waste management, the audit looks at key indicators that help customers assess a company’s safety record in a transparent manner. The audit identifies areas of improvement which are then openly discussed with customers.

“Safety is in our DNA at Dow and is an intrinsic part of our company culture” said Suresh Krishnan, supply chain operations & improvement leader for Dow in the Mena region.

“We have been active in the Middle East for more than 30 years and safety has always been at the forefront of our operations.”

“We remain committed to achieving our 2015 Sustainability Goals, which makes strong provisions for the local protection of human health and the environment, and our decision to partner with Tristar and champion its SQAS certification reflects that,” he added.

Eugene Mayne, group chief executive-Tristar, said: “We are proud to be the first transportation company in the region to be fully SQAS certified and we are thankful for Dow’s encouragement and support throughout the process.”

“Dow is an important partner and stakeholder in our business and it has always been critical for us to operate within their set of global EH&S standards. The SQAS certification only serves to validate our systems and processes which have been in place and continuously improved over a decade old relationship,” Mayne added. – TradeArabia News Service