As leaders in our industry, with 14,800 employees operating in some 35 countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia, world-class health and safety is important. It is a core component of every business aspect. Our aim is to create a safe working environment, where everyone enjoys coming to work.
Continuous improvement of safety
Sapa has continued to improve its safety performance year on year, and is now at the lowest ever recorded by the Group with a Total Recordable Rate of 9.3 and a Lost Work Day Rate of 3.3 (data on safety is found here). But the Group strives for zero accidents. To reach that goal we constantly continue to improve our safety culture.
The greatest cause of injury at Sapa locations remains ergonomic in nature with hand injuries being the most common. Our approach is to take small steps of improvement every day. All locations have made active efforts to raise standards by implementing measures ranging from major investments in equipment, such as new extrusion line with high standards of machinery safety, to smaller improvements such as preventing falls. Ergonomic risk assessments and training are commonplace.
A team effort
Sapa has an integrated approach to EHS, based on communication, training, auditing and rewards. All locations are responsible for putting the EHS Policy and governing frameworks into practice. A three-year EHS plan has been integrated into Sapa's business system, Genesis. This overarching plan is being deployed at all factories at a rate appropriate to the locations' current conditions.
All employees and managers adhere to safety laws and regulations issued by the company and the local government. Everyone has the responsibility to improve health and safety performance on a day-to-day basis. Various activities help to eliminate risk before accidents occur. These activities include:
- safety rounds
- risk analysis
- rapid case management for reported incidents
- taking health and safety into consideration at the early stages of changes, and
- involvement of contractors in our safety work.
Training and communication
All new employees undergo training in EHS as part of Sapa's introductory programmes. The Group has also implemented a Safety Management education and Behaviour Based Safety education to all employees. Numerous initiatives are taking place to improve communication with, and involvement of, employees, contractors and others associated with Sapa businesses worldwide.
Read more about training and activities within the Group to raise awareness of EHS.
Group award for EHS
Each year, a company within the Sapa Group receives the President's award for EHS. To be nominated for the EHS award the companies must have demonstrated considerable improvement in EHS standards:
- Location leadership driving EHS improvement
- Engaging the workforce in EHS activities
- Demonstrating excellent two-way communication skills
- Have effective EHS systems in place
- Have high standards of workplace safety and cleanliness All workers are well trained, competent and supported by line management
In 2011 Sapa Profiles Montreal in Canada received the President's EHS award for dramatically improving its safety performance over the past two years. This has been achieved through dedicated and committed management team with a clear systematic approach to EHS.
In 2010 Sapa Heat Transfer Alutubes in Belgium received the Sapa President's award for EHS for improving health and safety standards through a team approach and clear and passionate leadership for the safety and well-being of everyone working at the Lichtervelde location.