2013 SuStainability RepoRt >
SoCial ReSponSibility
58
| pRySmian gRoup | 2013 SuStainability RepoRt
health and saFety
The Prysmian Group is as committed as ever to the health,
safety and well-being of its employees at all places of work
within the Group. The objective is to promote activities that
take increasing account of health, safety and well-being
matters, both within and outside the working environment.
Although not necessarily required by local legislation, the
Group has established education and training programmes
on such topics as safety at work, first aid, the fire prevention
regulations, the consequence of alcohol and drug abuse, the
specific risks associated with certain job descriptions, and
environmental matters.
Each Prysmian operating unit provides employee training
on environmental and safety matters, having regard for the
specific activities carried out by each worker. Such courses
might cover, for example, the proper management of
engineering and electrical risks, the risks deriving from the
handling of chemicals or the instructions to be followed in
order to reduce the environmental impact of activities (such as
the handling of waste).
Partly to ensure compliance with current regulations, the
HR functions at country level prepare training plans for their
personnel and determine specific training paths for the various
categories of worker, depending on their roles, duties, levels of
responsibility and working environment.
The commitment to health and safety was reinforced once
again during 2013, via the coordination of central and local
activities under the guidance of the HSE function.
At the start of the year, HSE gathered, analysed and shared
with top management the results achieved in 2012 and the
performance of the Group and each Country/Geographical Area,
determined with reference to relevant indicators (total number
of events involving the loss of work and related ‘Frequency
Indicator’). Based on technical assessments and taking
account of the changes already made and local needs, the ESC
committee (Environment and Safety Committee) identified
areas for improvement and established the related objectives
for 2013.
The reduction of accidents is an absolute priority for the Group
and the target set for 2013 (OHSA LTA = 3.1
5
) reflected that
established in the prior year.
In order to support local functions and guarantee the
achievement of this objective, the HSE function took a number
of important steps during 2013 to involve various levels within
the Group, including:
• Strengthening the safety leadership at local level, starting
from the executive functions, in order to increase the
awareness of all personnel about their responsibilities for
safety at work: trial sessions were carried out at a number
of affiliates in 2013 and work will continue throughout 2014.
These specifically designed sessions describe the approach
adopted by Prysmian, the training and practical tools
available and the commitment required from, in particular,
the Employers and all business functions who, as managers,
supervisors or coordinators, can contribute to the gradual
modification of safety behaviours;
• Making more effective and accepted the process of analysing
events and defining corrective and preventive actions: in the
case of serious accidents, HSE participated in the detailed
analysis of their causes, both in order to contribute to the
management of the cases concerned and to identify from
them ideas for the prevention of repetitions at the Group’s
other operating units;
• Continuation of the training provided by the HSE function
on specific safety matters: a number of distance training
sessions were held (via webex) during the year, together with
classroom sessions delivered directly by corporate HSE, in
addition to all the local training courses carried out at each
affiliate or operating unit;
• Continuation of support for the HSE functions at Country/
Geographical area and unit level in implementing their health
and safety management systems and assessing the safety
aspects of new investment: the HSE function carried out
about 15 safety audits during 2013, including 5 pre-audits
designed to check directly the compliance of local systems
with the Group’s rules and regulations, and assess their
suitability for certification.
In confirmation of the work performed, the Frequency Indicator
of events involving the loss of work fell, at Group level, from 3.6
in 2012 to 3 in 2013, compared with the target of 3.1.
Accidents were also monitored with reference to other
parameters, such as their seriousness considering days absent
from work.
Analysis of the reasons for accidents and near-accidents
shows that the majority of accidents with loss of time worked
relate to cuts or injuries to fingers linked, respectively, to the
movement of drums and to the cutting and stripping of cables
at the machine set-up stage.
Lastly, progress on the programme to certify our health and
safety management systems resulted in three new OHSAS
18001 certifications during 2013 (Velké M., Czech Republic;
Eindhoven, Netherlands; Bishopstoke, UK), to which another
two were added in early 2014 (Paron, France; Lexington, USA).
(5) OSHA LTA indicator: (Total number of accidents with loss of work * 200,000)/Hours worked.
