Without safety, no sustainability
Prevention of health hazards, accidents, and incidents of injury is key element of our company’s sustainable strategy and an integral part of our business processes. Occupational safety and the successful management of Technical Risks play an essential role in protecting our employees and assets and thereby contribute to strengthening Siemens’ competitiveness. We therefore develop central programs and processes that are applied locally and adapted to the respective business needs. Safety management is an integral part of our Business Conduct Guidelines, our internal monitoring systems, and our risk management and internal controls.
The prevention of accidents must not be perceived as a statutory directive, but rather as a precept of human obligation and commercial good sense.Werner von Siemens, 1880
Safety, it's a mindset
Not only our customers and suppliers expect us to maintain high safety standards, but regulatory authorities around the world as well. But safe behavior is governed not only by complying with laws, regulations and procedures, but also by the personal values and mindsets of managers and employees. Our Zero Harm Culture @ Siemens program, launched in fiscal 2012, takes both aspects into account to achieve a lasting and sustainable change in the way people think and behave when it comes to safety, thereby driving the targeted cultural change on occupational safety and health management.
Safety as a matter of conviction
Our program follows three basic principles: Zero accidents – it is achievable! Health and safety – no compromises! We take care of each other! Our employees are our greatest asset. It is why we want every single Siemens employee to be able to rely on a safe working environment at all times so that they return to their family and friends as healthy as when they started the day. There is no compromise on safety and health. Zero Harm Culture @ Siemens – safety as a matter of conviction. To align businesses and countries, we have developed the Zero Harm Culture @ Siemens Country concept. In addition, our businesses and countries further improve safety at the local level through various activities per local needs and requirements.
How can we achieve a sustainable safety culture?
Safety usually starts with rules, regulations, and instructions. Information and training are certainly an important cornerstone. But just addressing people’s minds isn’t enough to create a culture of safety. It’s essential that we also reach people’s hearts in order to build up a true Zero Harm Culture.
An article on Zero Harm Culture @ Siemens by Dr. Ralf Franke
Applying a safety culture at project sites
In a fresh approach to Zero Harm Culture, Siemens is enabling workers to experience the value of safety measures first hand. With modular mobile site safety parks in front of construction sites that recreate real-world scenarios, Siemens offers workers safety training that turns hands-on exercises into an enjoyable – and memorable – experience.
No compromise on occupational safety
In order to reduce the number of accidents, we have introduced additional business-specific actions and programs, particularly on construction sites and in projects. We also take a very rigorous approach to selecting contractor companies and introduce stringent occupational safety requirements. In safety and health management we require a detailed risk assessment for every construction site and project. As a result of the systematic assessment process, we have developed and introduced, a number of contractor companies have been excluded from Siemens projects or are under review. They will not be reconsidered by us as potential contractors until the identified issues are objected and assessment processes have been successfully completed again.Firmly anchored: How Siemens implements occupational safety
The central programs and processes we develop are applied locally and adapted to the respective business needs. Occupational health and safety management are an integral part of our Business Conduct Guidelines, our internal monitoring systems, and our risk management and internal controls. In addition, occupational safety is part of an international framework agreement between Siemens AG, the Central Works Council of Siemens AG, IG Metall and the global union IndustriAll.
International and local standards
The consistent and on-going assessment of Technical Risks and the resulting protective measures are the basis for sustainable success. Siemens has established globally binding requirements for fire safety, explosion protection, and radiation safety, for the transport of dangerous goods and for EHS emergency management in order to protect people, the environment, property and assets, and our business processes.Protection provides the basis for success
Our globally active expert organization ensures the implementation of international and national, insurance-related, and Siemens regulations on these issues. As part of our proactive risk management, we identify and assess site and user-specific hazards and risks, implement risk mitigation concepts and strategies, and regularly review their effectiveness. In this way, we combine all important aspects related to Technical Risks and contribute to the safety of our customers and employees, as well as the protection of the environment and our business processes.
