With ResponsibleAg, Agriculture Retailers Build and Reinforce Safety Culture
Agricultural businesses work hard to keep their employees, customers, and communities safe. Earning ResponsibleAg certification demonstrates that commitment, says Peter Mutschler, a seasoned expert in regulatory compliance and safety management.
ResponsibleAg is an industry-led certification program that helps agribusinesses properly store and handle farm input supplies. It is jointly operated by The Agricultural Retailers Association, The Fertilizer Institute, and Asmark Institute.
Simplify Regulatory Compliance
Participants get resources and support to achieve and maintain compliance with existing federal laws and regulations — before their next audit. In fact, one of the key strengths of ResponsibleAg, Mutschler says, is its ability to simplify the regulatory compliance process. The program provides a clear, manageable to-do list that helps retailers organize their efforts and ensure they meet important standards. This organized approach not only makes compliance less daunting but also promotes a culture of safety and responsibility within the industry.
ResponsibleAg recently welcomed Mutschler as a new instructor with the program. Mutschler brings a wealth of experience including creating an auditing and compliance consulting system for the Farmers Union Central Exchange cooperatives and overseeing compliance and environmental remediations for the retail side of what became CENEX and latter CHS. He retired from there in 2019 as the Director of Safety and Environment for the country operations.
Engage Employees in a Safety Culture
Mutschler’s passion for ResponsibleAg is evident in his dedication to training auditors and advocating for the program. He believes that personal connection and commitment are essential for understanding and implementing safety regulations. ResponsibleAg bridges the gap between industry practices and public perception, showcasing the industry’s proactive efforts to rectify past mistakes and ensure a safer future.
Further, Mutschler emphasizes that ResponsibleAg fosters a collaborative environment where auditors and employees can engage in meaningful conversations about safety practices. These interactions go beyond mere checkbox compliance, facilitating in-depth training and understanding. Mutschler says that this dialogue can be one of the most positive aspects of the audit process, as it empowers employees to understand the “why” behind safety regulations and practices.
Five Benefits of ResponsibleAg
Participate in ResponsibleAg to
• Demonstrate responsibility and transparency to employees, customers, and communities
• Cut through confusion with ResponsibleAg’s unlimited access to valuable resources, including the Compliance Assistance Library, which provides quick and easy access to common federal compliance citations
• Access Responsible Ag’s trained auditors, who help businesses identify areas that need improvement
• Review ResponsibleAg’s Assessment Checklist of federal regulatory requirements for an agriculture supply business, which is updated annually by a team of experts
• Join with more than 2,500 agricultural businesses around the country that are working to improve the industry’s compliance and image