Northgate Leather

Summary

First environmental and social audit of Northgate Leather, a tannery with about 180 workers. The chemical certificate for the August chrome batch is missing, the wastewater outlet meter has been broken since July, and workers on the tanning floor do not consistently wear gloves or masks. The supplier promises a delivery date of November 15 for the order of two thousand hides.

Risk flags

• highWorkers without PPE on the tanning floor
  “We give them out, but not everybody wears them.” — Speaker 2 @ 0:54
• mediumMissing chemical certificate for chrome batch
  “The chemical certificate for the chrome batch from August is missing” — Speaker 2 @ 0:24
• mediumNo wastewater discharge readings
  “The meter on the outlet has been broken since July” — Speaker 2 @ 0:37

Findings

• Workforce and shifts

  About 180 workers; tanning runs one shift and finishing runs two.

  “About one hundred and eighty workers.” — Speaker 2 @ 0:09
• Delivery commitment

  The full order of two thousand hides is promised for November 15, conditional on chrome supply.

  “We promise the delivery date of November 15 for the full order” — Speaker 2 @ 1:07

Missing documents

• Chemical certificate for the August chrome batch
• Wastewater discharge readings since July
• PPE issue and training records

Follow-up questions

1. Has the chrome supplier sent the chemical certificate?
2. When will the wastewater outlet meter be repaired?
3. Is the November 15 delivery date still on track?

Transcript

1. 0:00Speaker 1Thank you for meeting us. This is the first environmental and social audit of your tannery. How many workers do you employ?
2. 0:09Speaker 2About one hundred and eighty workers. The tanning floor runs one shift, the finishing department runs two.
3. 0:17Speaker 1Which tanning agents do you use, and do you have a chemical certificate from your supplier?
4. 0:24Speaker 2We use chrome tanning agents. The chemical certificate for the chrome batch from August is missing, our supplier has not sent it yet.
5. 0:33Speaker 1How is the wastewater from the tanning drums treated?
6. 0:37Speaker 2It goes to our own treatment tank. The meter on the outlet has been broken since July, so we have no discharge readings for the last two months.
7. 0:48Speaker 1I saw workers on the tanning floor without gloves or face masks. Why is that?
8. 0:54Speaker 2They say the gloves are too hot in summer. We give them out, but not everybody wears them.
9. 1:01Speaker 1Last topic. Your buyer asked about the order of two thousand hides. What is the delivery date?
10. 1:07Speaker 2We promise the delivery date of November 15 for the full order, as long as the chrome arrives on time.