Code of Conduct
WISA members are committed to adhering to a Code of Conduct with Guiding Principles and Performance Standards that guide the Association’s efforts to be a leader in fostering a healthy, safe and environmentally responsible sand mining industry in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association Code of Conduct
1. Guiding Principles
- To lead in ethical ways that benefit society, the environment and the economy – People, Planet and Prosperity;
- To design and operate industrial sand facilities in a safe and environmentally sound manner;
- To promote clean water and clean air, minimization of waste and conservation of energy and other critical resources in the mining and processing of industrial sand;
- To collaborate with state and local governments in the state of Wisconsin in the development of effective, efficient and scientifically based safety, health, environmental and land use laws, regulations and standards;
- To be a leader in education and research on the health, safety, and environmental effects of crystalline silica and industrial sand mining and processing operations;
- To communicate with stakeholders and listen to and consider their perspectives – seek a “balance” between competing interests, consistent with People, Planet, Prosperity;
- To make continual progress toward a goal of no accidents, injuries, occupational disease cases at or from industrial sand operations in the state of Wisconsin, and to openly report health and safety performance;
- To work with carriers and other stakeholders to foster the safe transport of industrial sand;
- To instill a culture throughout all levels of the member company organizations to continually advance these guiding principles.
2. Performance Standards
Environmental
- All members are encouraged to participate in the Wisconsin DNR Green Tier Program at each of its industrial sand facilities within the state of Wisconsin.
- Regardless of participation in Green Tier, all WISA members shall demonstrate a commitment to the following:
- A strong environmental compliance record (factors considered may include recent civil or criminal judgments);
- A formal Environmental Management System (EMS) which includes periodic compliance auditing or a commitment to have one in place within one year;
- Confirmation of having performed an environmental compliance audit shall be provided by the participant if requested by the Board, at its reasonable discretion; and
- Prompt follow-up action to any findings of non-compliance or non-conformance discovered during EMS audits.
Safety
- A commitment to make continual progress toward a goal of no accidents, injuries, occupational disease cases at or from industrial sand operations in the state of Wisconsin, and to openly report health and safety performance;
- Adopt the National Industrial Sand Association’s (NISA) Silicosis Prevention Program and implement the NISA Occupational Health Program (OHP), which means that each member of WISA is required at a minimum to conduct dust monitoring for respirable crystalline silica and medical surveillance per the guidelines set forth in the NISA OHP (as it may be amended from time to time) in connection with their Wisconsin industrial sand facilities.
- Maintain an average respirable crystalline silica dust exposure level for each major job category at each Wisconsin industrial sand facility, at or below .05 mg/m3.
Community, including land use, transportation, community outreach and emergency response initiatives:
- Dialogue with stakeholders, and action as appropriate, to minimize the community impacts of industrial sand operations, e.g., tangible efforts to reduce noise, light pollution, blasting impacts, visual impacts, impact of truck and rail traffic;
- Establish a program to communicate relevant information concerning Wisconsin facilities to local communities;
- Engage local communities to identify and promote local community education projects, e.g., facility open houses, tours;
- Develop and manage wildlife habitat;
- Engage the local community to identify and promote local environmental projects.
Post Mining Land Use/Reclamation
- Adopt reclamation plans to provide post-mining economic and/or environmental value to the affected communities; engage the stakeholders when appropriate about reclamation and post-mining land use planning; maintain compliance with mining permit and reclamation plan.
Management
- Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) written commitment to Guiding Principles and Performance Standards; and
- Annual affirmation of compliance with Performance Standards to the Board.