WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chet Thompson, president and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), today issued the following statement in response to comments by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in last night’s presidential debate
Before the pandemic hit, the nation’s manufacturing sector — including the refining and petrochemical industries — was wrestling with how to find and train enough young people to replace the wave of Baby Boomers retiring from the workforce at a rate of nearly 6,000 per day.
For more than 100 years, the women and men of our industries have answered the call to serve when our country needed them. Through war, economic shocks, and natural disasters, refiners and petrochemical manufacturers have helped build new industries, grow our economy and fuel progress.
The fuel and petrochemical industries employ highly trained, talented people who produce the fuels, feedstocks and products that are critical to the well-being of our economy and country. Supporting...
It was 2010 and Jerry Wascom, ExxonMobil’s Americas refining director, was worried. Despite fuel and petrochemical manufacturers making significant improvements in the safety of their individual operations, across the industries there was an uptick in serious incidents. Workers were getting injured, surrounding communities were losing confidence, the reputation of the industries was being tarnished and regulators were becoming increasingly engaged. Wascom turned to his counterparts within the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers Association (AFPM), the industry trade group, and asked, “Are we doing enough to protect people?”
We took a moment to speak with Adam Ali, AFPM’s Manager of Workforce Development, about changes in the workplace employees are experiencing – including what happens when someone tests positive for COVID-19 — and actions being taken to protect and support the workforce.
As industries with deep-running safety cultures and critical roles in product supply chains, the fuel and petrochemical industries are uniquely positioned to share vital products with some of those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fuel and petrochemical industries have a long history of supporting the communities in which they live and operate, and they have amped up that support during this difficult time.
