Health and safety
OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System
In 2007 Smiths made a commitment to achieve certification to the occupational health and safety management system standard OHSAS 18001 by July 2010 at all of its manufacturing facilities with more than 50 employees.
Some Smiths businesses have already achieved certification and we can now use this experience to help with further implementation across the Group. In total we now have 19 facilities, out of a 2010 target of 88, certified to OHSAS 18001. A programme is in place to achieve the remaining certifications in the specified timeframe.
Performance indicators
The success of OHSAS 18001, together with other targeted initiatives, is measured against our recordable incident rate performance. Smiths tracks safety performance using the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration methods for lost time incident rate and recordable incident rate which express thenumber of incidents per 100 employees per year. The US Bureau of Labor publishes industry comparisons each year, providing us an approximate performance benchmark.
In August 2007, we announced the goal for all Smiths businesses to achieve a recordable incident rate better than 1.5(per 100 employees per year) by July 2010. We have outperformed this goal early, achieving a recordable injury rate of 1.03 in 2009, which is a 46% reduction over our baseline 2007 performance of 1.89. Since 2004, we have achieved a steady reduction in our recordable injury rate with 2009 being our safest on record for Smiths.
Audit
An audit process has been developed and external auditors retained to conduct legal EHS compliance audits of our operations. Facilities to be audited are chosen from across the Group based on size, complexity and compliance risks. Audited locations prepare corrective action plans, which are monitored closely to ensure proper and timely closure of issues. Common compliance issues may result in Group-wide initiatives to ensure compliance is maintained across the Group.
Smiths Medical, Tijuana Mexico: Ergonomics
At Smiths Medical in Tijuana, Mexico, employees keep moving with regular ergonomic exercises consisting of stretches and breathing techniques at their work stations. Employees avoid the risk of ergonomic-related illnesses and feel better in general, with reduced stress and muscular pains.
Smiths Detection, USA: New Online Environment Health & Safety Training
Smiths Detection USA launched an online learning management system for the delivery of EHS and wellness. The new online training system allows efficient and effective delivery, tracking, management, and reporting on all key EHS training initiatives.Online training enables employees to complete training anytime and anywhere they have access to the internet.
TUTCO de Mexico, Monterrey: Safety Programme Recognition
TUTCO de Mexico recently received recognition from the Mexican government for their success in the Programme of Management of Health and Safety in the Workplace. The Safe Company Programme is a promotional initiative of the Department of Labour and Social Planning to recognise the self-management of companies in health and safety.
Targeting under-performance
Sites with the weakest performance in the Group are selected for focused attention, involving additional management reviews, assessment, and improvement programmes.
Safety performance
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Data collection and analysis
We have invested in a bespoke worldwide data collection and reporting system which was implemented in August 2007. This gives us an enhanced ability to review performance site by site in real time against Group targets.
Performance against targets
Following a concerted effort, our safety performance, as measured through recordable and lost time incident rates, continues to improve. The improvements are supported by enhanced incident investigation and return-to-work programmes. The financial year just completed has been the safest on record for Smiths.
We are starting to see other positive indicators as well. Violations and fines are at an all-time low, with no fines levied during the 2009 fiscal year. In addition, our US workers' compensation claims costs continue to decline year over year. These visible and tangible benefits exclude the business costs and personal impacts associated with injury and lost time.
Performance against targets
|
Target (August 2007 - July 2010) |
2009 result |
|---|---|
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OHSAS 18001 certification |
19 out of 88 certified |
|
Certification at all sites with more than 50 employees by July 2010 |
|
|
Recordable incident rate |
1.03 |
|
Better than 1.5 per100 employees |
|
|
Lost time incident rate |
0.51 |
|
No target set |
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