Croda donates $10K to Del Tech chemical program

December 5, 2023 31

Delaware Technical Community College chemical process operator program received a $10,000 donation from Croda, a chemical manufacturer, to purchase new safety equipment.

Croda Atlas Point and Delaware Technical Community College pose in front of the newly purchased DAC Worldwide Lock-out/Tag-out Training System. |
PHOTO COURTESY OF DELAWARE TECH

NEWARK – The Delaware Technical Community College chemical process operator program received a $10,000 donation from Croda, a chemical manufacturer, to purchase new safety equipment.

The purchase of the DAC Worldwide Lock-out/Tag-out Training System offers a simulated work environment to provide hands-on training for lock-out/tag-out procedures. This system is designed to allow students to focus on safely identifying and locking out sources of potential energy hazards during maintenance processes.

The chemical process operator program teaches students various aspects of plant operations including safe startup and closure, troubleshooting, compliance and maintenance procedures. Students may receive a certificate, diploma or associate degree to work with chemical refineries or energy utilities.

“We are thankful to Croda for supporting the purchase of this equipment,” Dan Ehmann, vice president and campus director of Delaware Tech’s Stanton Campus, said in a statement. “Our campus continues to serve our community by producing well-trained and highly qualified graduates. Future industrial process operators coming out of Delaware Tech will have received hands-on knowledge and real-world training that will keep themselves and others safe while on the job.”

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), while maintaining machines and equipment the unexpected release of stored energy from a steam valve or internal wiring can cause serious injury or death. A lock-out/tag-out procedure protects workers from hazardous energy releases, preventing an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.

“Safety is not just something we consider as a priority, it is a value,” said Josh Dube, site director for the Croda Atlas Point facility in New Castle. “We want to make sure our employees go home each day the same way they arrived. That’s why technical training on devices like these is so important. The need for professionally trained and highly capable chemical operators will only grow in the future, and we’re incredibly lucky to have such a well-regarded program right here in our backyard. We’re thrilled to support Delaware Tech’s chemical process operator program and its commitment to professionalism and safety.”

Croda Atlas Point in New Castle is home to the R&D innovation lab and manufactures bio-based surfactants commonly found in soaps, makeup, and cleaning supplies. Croda is a member of the Delaware Tech Chemical Process Operator Advisory Committee and offers internship opportunities to students.