HSE

HSE

A COMPANY WHERE SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND PERFORMANCE GO HAND IN HAND.

At American Gilsonite, we conduct our business with dedication to the highest standards of ethical, social and environmental responsibility. We know that a high-performance safety culture is foundational to our success.

HSE

HEALTH & SAFETY

The employees of American Gilsonite Company are our most valuable asset. To ensure the health and safety of our workforce, our management team established a continuous improvement program focused on building a strong safety culture. We believe that a safety culture extends far beyond the worksite, and is a lifestyle decision that lies within each of our employees to look out for themselves, their coworkers, and their families. It provides the opportunity for positive communication and relationships across all levels of the organization, which sets the stage not only for a safe environment, but for a workplace that is positive, efficient and effective.

In 2015, we implemented a safety program to empower our employees through active participation by providing them with opportunities to take an active role in improving their own safety, the safety of their coworkers, and the safety of their environment.

We have since been recognized by the Industrial Minerals Association-North America (IMA-NA) – receiving their highest Safety Achievement Award – and by the Utah Mining Association (UMA) with their Safety Award.

ENVIRONMENTAL

We are dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment. Gilsonite® uintaite is a natural bitumen extracted via underground mining techniques, which causes significantly less surface disturbance when compared to strip or open pit mining. When operations are concluded at a particular mine site, these small areas of surface disturbance are reclaimed and returned to their original state in compliance with federal, state and local standards.

Our mining method focuses on quality extraction of the ore, allowing us to use 100% of the material that is recovered. This technique results in no residual waste piles or long-term environmental concerns.

Gilsonite® uintaite does not undergo any chemical transformation during processing, resulting in a lower carbon footprint than most refined petroleum products. Additionally, there are several health and environmental advantages to using Gilsonite®:

  • OSHA has classified Gilsonite® brand uintaite as non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-mutagenic
  • Contains no polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Contains no polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • REACH exempt
  • Achieved a green rating under the Norwegian HOCNF Color Category System, making it safe for discharge into the marine environment in Norway
  • Passes EPA environmental testing for deep-water discharge in the US Gulf of Mexico

Sustainability Efforts

Here at American Gilsonite Company, we strive to improve our future and our impact on the planet. The extraction and processing of Gilsonite® uintaite does not involve chemical or refining techniques or demand substantial energy and heat which can lead to the emission of greenhouse gases such as VOCs. Consequently, the emissions from its production are minimal compared to refined petroleum products. We recognize it’s our ethical responsibility to monitor and reduce emissions. That’s why we’ve made it one of our top priorities.

Greenhouse gases are a growing concern today, and it’s important to us to address this issue. Therefore, in 2023 we created our Environmental Sustainability Committee, with the mission to quantify, manage and improve our environmental impact. The committee aims to reduce our environmental footprint, foster a culture of sustainability, and ensure that the company’s strategy is aligned with global environmental standards. We plan to achieve this by educating employees on sustainable practices, identifying areas of improvement and implementing green initiatives. 

Environmental sustainability is a continuous effort that can always be improved. American Gilsonite Company has started this process through the following actions:

  • We reduced emissions from multiple mine sites by changing the power generation. Previously there was no other power source available for the remote mine sites other than diesel generators. We took the initiative to construct power lines to these sites and connected them to the local power plant, which is consistently ranked as one of the most environmentally clean plants in the US.
  • We began recycling excess wooden pallets to keep them out of landfills. They are either reused or converted into wood chips to be used in landscaping, playgrounds or other applications.
  • For several years, we have collected and calculated data that pertains to carbon emissions. This data has been used to help calculate our Scope 1 & 2 emissions and is important for understanding where and how we produce greenhouse gases. Analyzing this data helps us find areas we can improve, as well as measure our progress and ensure we are heading in the right direction.

In 2022, American Gilsonite Company started disclosing annual emissions data, climate-related opportunities and risks, and emissions targets via the Carbon Disclosure Project, or CDP. This report helps organize our thoughts, actions and structure regarding sustainability, and helps us benchmark our progress and see where we stand each year. CDP is also a useful tool to connect with other companies in our value chain, as collaboration with customers and suppliers is important to make changes in the market.

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and strengthening our focus on the impact our actions have on our planet. We will continue to develop our programs and efforts alongside our customers so we can work together towards a more sustainable way of doing business.

To learn more about how Gilsonite® uintaite can benefit your company, click on your industry below.