COMPANY NEWS | HISTORICAL COOPERATION MILESTONE
Editor's note: This article revisits a cooperation milestone first announced in 2013 and reflects the subsequent organizational development of the National Chemical Emergency Centre.
In 2013, REACH24H and the UK-based National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) established strategic cooperation in chemical emergency telephone response, global chemical regulatory compliance, and cross-border chemical safety management.
Under the agreement, REACH24H became NCEC's designated service provider in China, connecting chemical companies with international emergency telephone and professional response resources. This cooperation became an important foundation for REACH24H's Global Chemical Emergency Telephone and Response Services.
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Cooperation Built on Technical Assessment and Operational Alignment
The agreement followed approximately one year of communication and technical assessment between the two organizations.
Before formalizing the cooperation, REACH24H and NCEC conducted multiple technical exchanges covering emergency call-handling procedures, chemical hazard information, incident communication, and cross-border service coordination. Site visits and simulated exercises were also carried out to assess how the two organizations would work together in an emergency.
The strategic cooperation agreement was formally signed in late June 2013. An NCEC delegation led by Richard Davey, then responsible for international affairs, subsequently visited REACH24H to discuss operational implementation, service coordination, and support for companies managing chemical compliance across multiple markets.
The focus extended beyond providing a telephone number. Effective chemical emergency support depends on the response professionals behind the number, their access to relevant product and hazard information, defined call-handling procedures, and coordination across languages and jurisdictions.
NCEC's Emergency Response Expertise Continues within WSP
Established in the United Kingdom in 1973, NCEC has decades of experience in chemical emergency response and related chemical safety support.
In October 2025, WSP completed its acquisition of Ricardo plc. NCEC's chemical emergency response expertise subsequently became part of WSP's Chemical Risk operations.
REACH24H's cooperation and service coordination with NCEC have continued through this organizational transition. NCEC's emergency response experience, together with WSP's international professional network, continues to support the delivery of cross-border chemical emergency telephone and response services.
Why an Emergency Telephone Number Is More Than a Contact Detail
Companies supplying or transporting chemicals internationally may need to provide an emergency telephone number in their Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), transport documentation, or other supply chain records. The applicable requirements can vary by destination market, transport mode, product type, and customer arrangement.
Companies may need to assess:
Required service hours and telephone availability;
Local-language or designated-language response capabilities;
Access to product composition and chemical hazard information;
Professional advice and information communication during an incident;
Correct presentation of emergency contact details in Section 1 of the SDS;
Market- or transport-specific conditions for using an emergency number.
A telephone number alone may not be sufficient if callers cannot reach trained responders, obtain advice in the required language, or access information relevant to the chemical involved.
Through its cooperation with NCEC, REACH24H combines its experience in global chemical regulations, SDSs, labels, and dangerous goods transport with specialist chemical emergency response resources. This helps companies establish a more coordinated approach to emergency communication across their international supply chains.
How REACH24H Supports Global Chemical Supply Chains
REACH24H assesses each company's product type, target markets, transport arrangements, and supply chain requirements before recommending an appropriate emergency telephone and response solution.
Support may include:
Identifying emergency telephone requirements in different countries and regions;
Providing access to global 24-hour emergency telephone and professional response support;
Preparing or reviewing multilingual SDSs and labels;
Supporting dangerous goods transport compliance and related regulatory training.
This integrated approach helps manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, and logistics teams align emergency contact arrangements with their SDSs, transport documents, and market-specific compliance obligations.
Companies planning to place or transport chemicals across multiple jurisdictions can provide their target markets, product information, transport modes, and existing SDSs for an initial review.
Planning a chemical emergency response review?
Share your target markets, product information, transport modes and existing SDSs. REACH24H can help assess your requirements and recommend an appropriate emergency telephone and response solution.
