The former spin doctor of the CDA has a new feature. Jack de Vries became commissioner of the chemical company Chem Ours, which is under fire because of the PFOA contamination around its Teflon plant in Dordrecht. What is the role of De Vries as Commissioner?
chemistry he knows nothing but reputation management Jack de Vries knows everything. And exactly why is De Vries appointed as auditor of the chemical company Chem Ours, a spinoff from DuPont. The company is a difficult time. Last summer Chem Ours took DuPont chemistry activities and on it went as an independent company on the stock market. It produces at its plant in Dordrecht include the FEP plastic, synthetic rubber Viton and Teflon coating material. Use was made of the adjuvant PFOA.
In particular, the last matter is much to do in the last few months. In the production of Teflon FEP is used, and to 2012 perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA in abbreviated form, also known as C8). PFOA is a substance that does not degrade in the body, and thus accumulates. DuPont said the substance in its own documents and arrangements laid already in the 90s carcinogen, but kept the findings behind for the supervisory authorities and continued emissions of PFOA, even when it had developed previously (more expensive) alternatives.
De Vries turns up …
Chem Ours Netherlands has since early this year a remarkable person in his three-member supervisory board. It is the political scientist Jack Gabe de Vries (1968), former spin doctor of the CDA and Secretary of State for Defence in the fourth Balkenende government. De Vries’ directorship in Chemour is remarkable because he is not known for his knowledge of the business – let alone the chemical industry. De Vries has since 2011 worked at communications consultancy Hill + Knowlton. There he plunged initially as a lobbyist for the Joint Strike Fighter, but in recent years he led a cunning publicity are doing there.
“My background is relevant in connection with the stakeholder and communications issues faced Chem Ours has”
That specific knowledge of chemistry is not necessary at all, says De Vries asked. “You need different expertise in the supervisory board. We have Mathijs Vrijsen someone on the board with a background in business and Martijn Barnas has legal knowledge. My background is relevant in connection with the stakeholder and communication aspects that has to deal with Ours Chem. I also possess expertise in the field of human resources, the legislation on pensions and the Law Security and Income and the like.
The appointment of De Vries does not appear to be the result of a careful search for the right man or woman. De Vries says he is nominated by the works of Chem Ours, which he knows one of the members private. “In my spare time I am chairman of the Dutch association. So we know each other and I polled. It seemed a fascinating business. “
De Vries has since his forced departure from the politically active as a communications consultant. First independently, but in 2011 he released his desk at Hill + Knowlton Strategies Netherlands, where he was strategy director. DuPont has in the past often used the consulting services of Hill + Knowlton, and it was obvious that Chem Ours would continue that tradition. However, De Vries said that the consequence of his appointment as commissioner is that “the bands are cut. Chem Ours is in the Netherlands, according to him, so do not use more of invoiced services of Hill + Knowlton.
However, acknowledges De Vries its expertise in the field of communications and Public Affairs available to to Chem Ours Netherlands the management. “As commissioner, you have a different role as a consultant, I do not need to tell you. You do, of course, in the first place supervision. But in addition you are also sounding board and look into specific cases. Since you’re talking about with the management. “
… and Chem Ours shines forth
The exposure of workers and local residents to PFOA is undeniably the most important of those ‘special cases’ for Chem Ours Netherlands which De Vries intact. Concerns about the impact of the pollution has been associated with the production of Teflon is great, and the research of the RIVM can not eliminate it. That was no less then a blood test, conducted on behalf of the Algemeen Dagblad , showed that PFOA values of two local residents were “shocking” much higher than assumed in the calculation of RIVM was possible .
A blood test showed that PFOA values ’shocking’ were much higher than according to the RIVM was possible
Meanwhile, it continues to rumble in provincial politics. There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the authorization, the functioning of the provincial regulators and whether there is a large-scale blood tests to come – and the resulting demand whoever they are going to pay. In the US DuPont has cost assumed, but Chem Ours has announced that feel nothing. It would make no sense, because with the knowledge that it would cause can not do anything. Who once PFOA in his body, there will be difficult from it. Match excreted after four years is half.
The RIVM investigation showed DuPont employees who have worked with PFOA disregarded. Chem Ours recently organized for them a much-anticipated information evening. One of the criticisms which retired workers had was that it took so long before they had heard from Chem Ours himself while in the media so many reports came out about the pollution
Journalists were not allowed, but Follow the Money was at the invitation of one of the pensioners as a guest present. Even though he said he was not directly involved, the hand of De Vries was on that night already evident.
Chem Ours director Erik Meijer held, initially stammering and awkward, an argument to the effect that he understood the concerns, but that in the end all that bad. He repeatedly referred to the study by the RIVM and the ‘professional programs DuPont and Chem Ours had regarding safety and care for the employees. “I’m 24 years working in chemistry, but have never seen this.”
That at DuPont concern for the health of workers, however, a thing is to bargain, recently revealed when current affairs program EenVandaag revealed that the company in its Dutch plant lycra women, against their own rules, had to work unprotected. As a result they were exposed to the toxic substance DMAC (dimethylacetamide). Of the 35 women who spoke EenVandaag has revealed 33 serious pregnancy and fertility problems to have. DuPont responded as if his nose was bleeding and declared “never been made aware” of the problems.
Meijer said there was going to blow a Chem Ours recently another wind. He promised that the company would behave differently, more open than the traditionally closed as DuPont. “We want more to go beyond.”
Trivializing
The interest in the information evening was overwhelming, so much so that an additional afternoon session was to be held. could ask the audience questions after the presentation by director Meijer. Most questioners took the opportunity to tell it, often poignant, story about their own experiences in the Teflon plant and the personal medical history. Cancer, kidney and liver problems were found to be the most common. Concerns about a possible link with their employment were not removed, even though it tried to downplay the present company suspicions about it. He suggested that PFOA ‘the most studied substance to world and that there have never been shown a clear link with cancer. “Both statements, however, are not true.
How that relates to the conclusions that DuPont itself already in the eighties had pulled all – PFOA is carcinogenic – and that of the nota bene by DuPont itself paid scientific C8 Science Panel in the US, the company left out of consideration. The answer to the question why DuPont the results of blood tests or to the American environmental authority EPA under Dutch workers sent, but never shared with the Dutch Labour Inspectorate, was relying on formal procedural rules unclear. Director Meijer said, however, that all former workers exposed also how to PFOA, are eligible for a blood test paid by Chem Ours. “Even if you have nothing to knowledge, we understand the need.
Meanwhile, the call for further research are growing louder. RIVM has examined only the period 1998-2012 as in the period before any discharge permits have been issued. Chem Ours has been commissioned his archives to dust off and go in search of old data.
Former employees are questioning the level of emissions that are mentioned in the RIVM report
PFOA was long an unregulated substance, which is on the list of Substances of Very High Concern only in 2013 did. DuPont had the knowledge shared about potential carcinogenic and other harmful health effects of PFOA, the emission was much earlier links should be placed. The way DuPont emissions from the dust – there were often used different names – reported, also raises questions. Also about the actual emissions versus the reported were discussed during the meeting. Some former employees are questioning the level of emissions that are mentioned in the RIVM report. They argue that consumption was much higher in the factories in those years, and that there also has been regularly talk of spills . Clouds of dust were simply blown out from the factory.
What and how will be examined in the coming period, is primarily a political issue. Additional budget should be made available. In Sliedrecht and surroundings thousands of people want to have their blood tested. They pay the 80 euros that it usually costs themselves. It will be interesting to see if the results of the blood test matches with the estimates of the RIVM.
However it can not be ruled out that Chem Ours for the sins of his predecessor will be withdrawn liable. For Commissioner / PR man Jack de Vries lie in the offing yet interesting times.
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