Focus on Health and Safety – every day
Today, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is highlighted worldwide. Occupational health and safety in the workplace has the highest priority at Sandvik, which has reduced the lost time injury frequency (LTIFR) for seven years in a row to an all-time low. Sandvik’s health and safety work also supports UN's Sustainable Development Goal No. 8 "Decent Working Conditions and Economic Growth".
“While we have seen the development of a very strong safety culture in Sandvik over the last 10 years together with an excellent improvement in our injury performance, we have also had several workplace fatalities in that time,” says Stuart Evans, VP Global Environment, Health and Safety. “We simply cannot rest until we have done everything we can to eliminate those hazards that could result in serious injuries in the future.”
We simply cannot rest until we have done everything we can to eliminate hazards that could result in serious injuries
In recent years, the LTIFR has been steadily decreasing to last year’s 1.7, – the lowest in Sandvik’s history. In 2016, Sandvik adopted new Environment, Health and Safety Objectives that include a zero vision for fatal accidents in its own facilities and an LTIFR of less than 1.0 by 2020.
An all-time low injury frequency
Extensive efforts are continuously put in by every one of Sandvik’s sites around the world to improve health and safety for our people and several activities are planned in conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health. But health and safety is not just a matter for factory workers, it is equally important for every person in our company. Therefore, any meetings within Sandvik where there are people who are unfamiliar with the local safety requirements or emergency evacuation procedures are initiated with a safety briefing before it can start. All as part of the work to ensure that all employees can return safely home after work.
Improving customers’ health and safety
We must also recognize the contribution our products make to the health and safety of our customers. An example of how Sandvik contributes to increased workplace safety is AutoMine®, a mining automation solution. Mining is one of the most potentially hazardous industries in the world, even though new technology and safety programs have improved the situation considerably. An estimated 10,000 miners (of a total of ten million in the mining industry) may die every year as a result of falls, explosions, fires, flooding and other accidents. By having machines perform the most risky work tasks, a safer and healthier work environment is created and while also increasing efficiency.
Watch Sandvik's CEO Björn Rosengren put on his safety equipment
About World Day for Safety and Health at Work
On April 28 The International Labor Organization (ILO) celebrates "World Day for Safety and Health" to raise awareness of safety in the workplace. Occurring annually since 2003, each year it focuses on a specific area and bases a campaign around the theme. The 2017 campaign focuses on the critical need for countries to improve their capacity to collect and utilize reliable occupational safety and health (OSH) data.
Read more about the World Day for Safety and Health at Work at the website for ILO