Occupational health and safety

In our corporate guideline on occupational health and safety we have specified the fundamentals of our policy for promoting the good health of the workforce. The stated objective is to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries, and the risk of occupational illness, by means of intensified preventive measures. With the Sustainability Ambitions 2020 we aim to reduce the frequency rate and severity rate of accidents to zero by 2020. The same target applies to the number of fatalities but should be reached already by 2012.

Group standards
In recent years the Group standards concerning work at heights and machine safeguarding have focused primarily on production processes. In 2010 we also addressed construction project safety and driving safety. We analysed a number of projects and used the findings as a basis for revising and supplementing the existing safety requirements for construction projects. This updated standard will be included as an element in contracts for future construction projects.

The new standard for driving safety resulted above all from the work of the “Occupational Health and Safety” task force in the CSI. HeidelbergCement has served as co-chair of this task force since the start of 2010. The analysis of work-related fatalities at all CSI member companies in recent years indicates that most of the accidents in the industry occur in logistic activities, on facility grounds or public roads. Using this finding as a basis, the CSI task force developed recommendations to be implemented by the member companies.

To prevent work-related accidents, safe equipment and appropriate management structures are needed. Processes for safe work practices, specified in writing, exist at all the locations. In addition, 84% of our locations have management systems that also stand up to evaluation by external specialists — and most of them conform to the OHSAS 18001 requirements.

Occupational safety is a responsibility of management
Although we are continually improving occupational health and safety at the technical and organisational levels, the fact remains that fatal accidents still happen from time to time, even in countries that have established high standards in technical and organisational areas. The immediate cause of the accidents in most cases is human error. This is why we are intensifying our efforts to make the employees and contractors even more acutely aware of risks in the workplace. In particular, we want to make sure that our managers increasingly serve as role models. We aim to achieve this by means of targeted training programmes for managers and continuing education at all levels.

In the spring of 2010, for instance, we distributed our safety film throughout the Group. The film is based on real-life accidents and is used for training purposes. We have produced posters that call attention to all existing Group standards. Translated into the languages of the countries in which we operate and displayed at locations Group-wide, the posters are discussed in training courses in order to raise awareness of accident risks.

Accident trends
It is true that we have succeeded in further reducing the frequency and severity of accidents in all units during recent years. Unfortunately, the accident figures are still much higher than we had hoped. The dismaying fact remains that we still have to mourn deaths of our employees, employees of external companies we commission and third parties with no connection to the Group, mostly in traffic accidents.

Occupational illnesses
Most cases of occupational illness that have been identified in recent years have involved noise-induced hearing loss. With 42 cases worldwide in 2010, the absolute number of cases was lower than in previous years. Further occupational illnesses of relevance were RSI syndrome (repetitive strain injury), back injuries and respiratory illnesses. To prevent illnesses, we check the levels of noise and dust at the work sites at most of our locations and monitor the employees’ health. In countries with less developed statutory health care systems, our subsidiaries offer comprehensive health check-ups for all employees and in some instances for their families as well. At these locations, medical treatment is for the most part provided through dedicated health stations or clinics staffed by medical personnel.

Preventive health services
We offer preventive health services at many locations, including the one in Heidelberg, where we have the largest number of employees in support and service positions, who spend most of their time sitting. In Heidelberg we have implemented health management and employee development measures to help ensure the good health of the workforce. In cooperation with the works council, health insurance providers, the responsible trade association and local clubs and fitness centres, we offer a variety of services, including the early detection of illnesses and risk factors and, above all, programmes that help employees take a proactive approach to a healthy lifestyle.