An important component within sustainability programs is safety. After all, we all want work processes to be as seamless as possible, with the health of employees and other stakeholders paramount. But when we conduct CSR audits at companies, we often see the same flaws pop up. We explain to you our five most commonly found findings in the area of safety.
1) Lack of a fire or evacuation drill
Generally required from customers. Local laws usually don't go as specific about how and how often you must conduct fire and evacuation drills, but many sustainability programs including SMETA, SWA and ICS require that all departments and shifts within the company conduct an evacuation drill at least once every 12 months. We often see that this is not done in practice. Or when it is done, it’s incompletely. Certain shifts are then skipped or some departments do not evacuate. The goal is for everyone in the company to be up-to-date around fire and evacuation drills.
2) Lack of repeat safety training
When employees are newly hired, they often receive initial safety training and explanations on subjets as the location of assembly points, the personal protective equipment (PPE) they should wear, who the in-house emergency response team (FAFS) workers are, what the emergency procedure is and how to handle material handling. But what we often see is that there is no repeat training after that introductory lesson. Sustainability programs require companies to retrain their staff on safety every year.
3) Lack of trained FAFS officers in all shifts
It is important that companies always have - in every department and within every shift - at least one trained FAFS officer (but preferably several) present. By doing so, they ensure that proper action is taken in the event of an accident or other health issues. Organizations often choose to have the FAFS course conducted externally. The guideline is that the FAFS course should be updated regularly. In reality, we see that companies do not always comply with this properly, and that is then a non-compliance.
4) Lack of thorough inspection on lifting and hoisting equipment
This finding mainly concerns lifting belts. Hoisting belts often hang from a hoist, after which objects or assemblies weighing thousands of pounds can be lifted. The danger with hoisting belts is that they can wear out. This poses a huge risk: you obviously don't want to experience a leaden object falling from meters high, with all its possible consequences. Another threat posed by the use of hoisting belts is that they are loose objects that can basically be anywhere inside or outside the plant. Companies must ensure that the equipment is in a fixed location at the time of inspection and that they are in good technical condition.
5) Failure to actively offer PAGO/PMO
Companies are required to offer a Periodic Occupational Health Examination (PAGO). This
is an examination that focuses on work-related health risks and is mainly relevant for people with heavy jobs. These include people who work in noisy environments, work night shifts or are continuously exposed to other strenuous conditions. There is also the Preventive Medical Examination (PMO), which has a wider scope. In fact, this examination is about the overall health of employees. It also checks on lifestyle and mental health. Sustainability guidelines require that at least the PAGO is offered. This does not apply to PMO, although it is obviously appreciated if organizations do.
In addition to these common safety non-conformities, we also observe many findings in other fields. Especially within the areas of Human Resources, integrity and environment, there is still quite a bit of work to be done.
Do you find it difficult to take the right actions to meet requirements from sustainability audits? With years of experience and APSCA-registered auditors, Approven Partners has all the knowledge to guide you through this process. Mail to hello@approven.partners for more information.
Comments