Occupational health and safety

As a manufacturing company, occupational health and safety (OH&S) of employees is a priority and material topic for HUBER+SUHNER. We have a global Health and Safety Policy and apply the principles established by the International Labour Organization (ILO). HUBER+SUHNER strives proactively to prevent its employees from having accidents at work and leisure, as well as from developing occupational diseases and their consequences.

We monitor our performance according to three key figures: the absence rate due to sickness, the lost-time injury rate, and the lost-time injury severity rate. In 2022, the absence rate due to sickness[1] was 4.0 % (PY 3.7 %). For comparison: in the Swiss manufacturing sector, the absence rate was 3.3 % in 2021 (most recent available statistics*).

The lost-time injury rate[2] (according to GRI disclosure 403-9) decreased from 5.0 in 2021 to 4.1 in 2022, with nine sites reporting zero lost-time injuries. The lost-time injury severity rate[3] was recorded for the second time. It showed 16.8 lost working days per lost-time injury. As of 2023, we aim to achieve a lost-time injury rate of 3.0 or fewer per 1 million hours worked. No work-related fatalities were recorded during the reporting period. Data and targets related to lost-time injuries are published only for direct and indirect production employees, as lost-time injuries among office employees are very rare and would skew the published figures.

Ernst & Young Ltd performed a limited assurance engagement on selected figures marked with a   for 2022.

Occupational health and safety management

HUBER+SUHNER ensures OH&S through strict adherence to local laws and regulations and to three global processes that were introduced towards the end of 2020 and have been rolled out since then. Every plant has health and safety officers on duty to conduct training and walk-throughs which sensitise employees not only to work-related hazards but also to health-related topics in general. With the participation and consultation of workers, we are able to identify hazards and assess workplace risks and seize opportunities early on in order to eliminate hazards before they become incidents.

Safe and legally compliant handling of hazardous material

To protect our employees as well as the environment when handling hazardous materials such as chemicals, we comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the respective countries. We ensure that manufacturers and importers of hazardous materials provide information and instructions for safe handling. These include the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) hazard pictogrammes, hazard statements and precautionary statements. We request the safety data sheet from the supplier, preferably in the local language. The site’s environmental health and safety (EHS) specialist must ensure that Safety Data Sheets (SDS)[4]
for all chemicals used are filed in such a way that they are easily accessible to all affected employees.

To constantly minimise risks associated with the handling of hazardous materials, we adhere to the following principles:

• If possible, replace hazardous materials with non-hazardous ones
• Keep stock of hazardous materials as low as possible
• Strictly observe manufacturers’ instructions on packaging and SDS, ensure translations into local languages, and train operators
• Organise warehouses in a legally compliant manner (containers, infrastructures, separated storage, stock list, etc.)
• Provide workers with personal protective equipment and ensure it is worn correctly
• For new purchase orders, ensure the most recent SDS is provided/downloaded from the supplier’s website
• Check SDS for updates/changes and inform relevant employees accordingly.

Country initiatives

Since 2018, HUBER+SUHNER India shop floors have started their days with a yoga session and celebrated International Yoga Day by doing yoga with all employees in the years 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. In 2022, we also organised our first 21-day yoga challenge to keep staff members physically and mentally well in order to further strengthen the health and wellness goal, which had created the foundation for subsequent physical activities. As a result, our Indian team started a 55-day walking challenge to encourage people to move more with a target of 10 000 steps each day. The challenge's brilliance was that it had a deadline, encouraging all participants to exert a little more effort. Everyone involved experienced the gratifying effects of consistent walking at the end of the 55-day period.

“The 10 000-step challenge and the daily yoga from HUBER+SUHNER are great initiatives. I tried being an active part of these programmes and observed good results for myself – both physically and mentally – which is very essential for a happy life. I have been able to reduce my weight by a couple of kilograms and hope to lose more weight to keep healthy. Previously I have tried being physically active but I couldn’t follow through. Now, thanks to the programmes, I took it as a personal challenge and really enjoyed it. Even my family got motivated and started following my routine. I hope we will continue with such events that increase awareness and keep people healthy and happy.”

Sriharsha Kanigolla, Software Developer, HUBER+SUHNER, Bangalore

In Charlotte, United States, our colleagues joined forces with SweatNET Corporate Wellness to offer employees a comprehensive wellness programme designed around feedback from a wellness survey conducted in 2022. The programme includes a variety of live virtual fitness classes, live virtual guided meditations, live virtual cooking classes, company-wide challenges and a wellness platform with over 350 streamable fitness classes, 50-plus guided meditations, 250-plus healthy recipes, and more. The goal is to improve the overall well-being of employees, leading everyone to a healthier lifestyle that positively impacts company culture and productivity.

At our site in Nawojowa Gora, Poland, all employees have received information and were given suggestions for exercises to help improve their fitness levels despite spending eight hours at their office desks. Additionally, fresh fruits are provided for everyone on a weekly basis.

In China, safety month took place in June under the motto “Comply with the safe production law, take ownership to act safely”, our colleagues undertook a safe production law training and test, they trained employees in first aid, firefighting and safety knowledge, and new safety posters were issued. Trainings were concluded with knowledge competitions and a management-level safety inspection.

At our site in Tczew, Poland, the team conducted an emergency drill, including first aid for a wounded employee, with the city’s fire brigade. Additionally during the year, employees received a set of practical health and safety trainings including the use of fire extinguishers and the automated external defibrillator (AED) as well as practical first aid training to save lives in case of an emergency.

At our site in Cambridge, United Kingdom, the team updated their evacuation policy. This includes a newly established evacuation process for people with impairments. They also introduced an onsite duty assignment to indicate which fire marshals and first aid personnel were available. One colleague joined the fire marshals and four people became new members of the first-aid team. Various sweep zones were created. The fire marshalls are assigned to a building zone which needs to be physically checked in the event of an emergency. Since 2022, a new role was created with the nomination of a chief fire marshall who coordinates the fire marshals and first-aid teams. Our employees established contacts with other businesses in the shared building for an improved emergency collaboration. Additionally, refresher trainings for the use of the defibrillator unit were held.

A global action plan and process board

The company has developed a global action plan to ensure globally aligned OH&S management. By the end of 2023, all sites with production and/or warehousing activities must establish and maintain an OH&S management system that fulfils the requirements of ISO 45001. Internal auditors are reviewing these management systems. So far, the production sites in Changzhou and Shanghai, China, are TÜV SÜD-certified according to ISO 45001. Following the 2022 surveillance audit by TÜV SÜD, these two sites had six nonconformities identified, all of which minor. Corrective actions were immediately taken and the nonconformities were resolved accordingly.

In 2022, a global OH&S process board was established and regular meetings were held throughout the year. Its aim is to unite the OH&S community and exchange ideas and best practices among the global team. Going forward, all sites with production and logistics activity will set up an annual OH&S target, including an action plan that is implemented and verified through planned audits. The Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA) can be further promoted globally. Our goal is for all major production sites to be certified according to ISO 45001 by 2025.