Emergency Response

We aim to avoid safety-related incidents as far as possible with comprehensive preventive measures and clearly defined responsibilities. Should an emergency nevertheless arise, we have established structures and processes that enable effective crisis management.

Strategy and governance

We want to be as prepared as possible for crisis situations at global, regional and local level – from process safety incidents to goods spillages and emergencies – through extensive emergency preparedness and emergency response regulations and measures. That is why our emergency and crisis management focuses on the protection of our employees, contractors and neighbors, the safety of our plants and sites, and the protection of the environment. To ensure rapid and effective crisis management, we have defined appropriate structures and processes and laid them down in binding Group-wide requirements. Our sites and Group companies are responsible for implementing and complying with these internal requirements and the legal specifications. The Environmental Protection, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) unit in the Corporate Center conducts regular audits to monitor this.

Unusual incidents are recorded and reported centrally in accordance with a standardized Group-wide procedure (e-Rapid Incident Report). The aim is to identify risks at an early stage and, if necessary, initiate appropriate remedial and communication measures. All incidents are followed up on to identify potential for improvement, which is integrated into existing concepts as needed.

Organization and responsibilities

Incidents are initially handled by the local crisis organization or local emergency response team. We have implemented precautionary organizational measures with clearly defined responsibilities and procedures at all sites for this purpose. The employees responsible receive regular training. This includes safety and emergency drills, which vary in scope and the number of people involved. Depending on the situation, we also involve business partners and our sites’ communities, such as local authorities or neighboring companies, both in drills and in the event of an emergency. Additional teams may be called in for emergencies, depending on the extent of the damage and how it develops.

The Global Crisis Management Support Team (GCMS), led by a member of the Board of Executive Directors is activated in the event of a crisis situation. It provides the strategic direction for crisis management and is supported by issue-specific and specialist working groups.

We are involved in external networks, which quickly provide information and assistance in emergencies. These include the International Chemical and Environmental (ICE) initiative and the German Transport Accident Information and Emergency Response System (TUIS), in which BASF plays a coordinating role. In 2023, we provided assistance to public emergency response agencies and other companies in 116 cases (2022: 131). This included information on chemicals and their proper disposal, on­-site operational support for transportation accidents involving hazardous goods and information on human biomonitoring.¹ We apply the experience we have gathered to improve our own processes and set up similar systems in other countries.

• More information on emergency response