Report

Environmental, Health and Safety Report

2018

Introduction

Derivados del Flúor (DDF) is the European leader inthe field of manufacturing and distribution ofinorganic fluorochemicals, due to its capacity, know-how and expertise

Back in 1947, it started as a división of Minerales yProductos Derivados S.A. (MINERSA), and it was in1967 that it became an independent company. DDFis now part of MINERSA mining Group, one of themain worldwide fluorspar producers and fromwhich DDF sources this startegic raw material forthe production of Hydrofluoric Acid. Consequently,MINERSA Group benefits from a vertical integration,from mining to manufacturing and distribution ofinorganic fluorochemicals and anhydrite.

Major uses of DDF products are essential for daily life:refrigeration, air conditioning, special polymers for thechemical industry, waterproof and breathable fabrics(Teflon®, Gore Tex®), aluminium, glass etching, solar cells,semiconductors, glass, tableware, nuclear industry, lead freepetrol, stainless Steel, self-levelling floors, etc.

The strategic location of the plant in Ontón (Cantabria, Northof Spain) close to the port of Bilbao and within easy reach fothe railway and highway network, means that DDF is perfectlycommunicated with Europe and has the best logisticconditions to export all over the world.

Health and Safety at work

Lost time injury frequency rate figures

YEARS

The Occupational, Health & Safety management system ofDerivados del Flúor according to OHSAS-18001 standard hasachieved a downwards trend along the years in the evolutionof the lost time injury frequency rate (number of accidentsfor each million working hours).

This work method statements are applied to both, own andsubcontracted employees.

0

5

10

15

20

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Process Safety and Emergency Response

Product Stewardship

Derivados del Flúor includes within its integrated riskassesment methods those in compliance with Royal LegislativeDecree 840/2015 on major accidents, colloquially calledSEVESO III.

This practice is aimed to manage the risks andimprovement of the performance of products used,supplied or manufactured in the fields of safety,health and the environment, during the entire lifecycle.

The final goal is to minimise those risks involved in thedistribution of chemical products throughout the supplychain: for the Carrier, distributor, contractor, employees,logistics operator and the community.

Derivados del Flúor is actively engaged within theworking group CTEF-STS (European Technical Committeefor Fluor-Storage Transport and Safety) that developsrecommendations on storage, transport and safehandling of hydrofluoric acid.

DDF supports and provides recommendations to itscustomers and downstream users to encourage them tostore, handle and release chemical products safely.Additionally, regular communication with the localcommunity is promoted to bring the industrial realitycloser to society.

DDF code is intended to prevent fires, explosions and accidentalreleases of chemical products. For this purpose, productionplants are properly operated and maintained to ensure goodworking practices.

The Internal Emergency or Self-protection Plan implementedincludes the performance of annual emergency drills and DDFhas also collaborated with the competent authorities in thedevelopment of an External Emergency Plan.

Environmental impacts surveillance Gaseous emissions

YEARS

The Environmental Management system of Derivados delFlúor was awarded with ISO-14001 certification in year2000.

The most significant environmental impact is caused due to:

✓ Gaseous emissions from processing or purifierequipments, being fluoride and solid particles the mainpollutants.

✓ Wastewaters purified at the own treatment plant beforebeing discharged into the sea.

✓ The production of solid waste.✓ Natural resources consumption.

The continued reduction of emissions is gainingasymptotic character over time, due to theimplementation of the best available technologies(BAT).

Process Gaseous Emissions Kg Fgas/tn

0

0,001

0,002

0,003

0,004

0,005

0,006

0,007

0,008

0,009

0,01

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Waste waters Solid wastes

Total Waste generation(Waste kg/tn)Waste Waters (kgF/tn)

YEARS YEARS

Control on waste waters treatment includes analysis onpH, fluoride, suspended solids, temperature and oils andfat contents. Samples are routinely taken and analysed bythe own laboratory of Derivados del Flúor and also by anexternal certified laboratory.Additionally, DDF performs an specific and periodicalmonitoring of the receiving environment where thephysical-chemical quality of the waters is analysed, aswell as the specific biota of the waste area.

The effort made to reduce the generation of solid wastehas been remarkable over the years, resulting in aprogressive and continuous decrease.

0

0,01

0,02

0,03

0,04

0,05

0,06

0,07

0,08

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 20170

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Natural resources

- Natural gas, for process equipmentheating.

- Water, used for process cooling andfor the purification of gas treatmentfacilities.

- Electric power, necessary to runengines, pumps, and processing andcooling equipments.

In addition to the main raw material (fluorite), these are thethree natural resources used in DDF production processes:

Report

Environmental, Health and Safety Report

2018

FACTORY AND OFFICES:ONTÓN. 39706 - Cantabria - SPAINTel.: + 34 942 87 99 00web: www.ddfluor.com