Examples from around the world demonstrate how concrete measures to reduce occupational accidents contribute to long-term employee safety in the workplace.
Brazil organized an internal campaign for accident prevention to promote safe behavior in 2012. As part of various activities, topics such as resilience and teamwork were discussed. The campaign focused on more than just safety in the workplace, other important health issues were also discussed, e.g. HIV/AIDS. The results achieved were positive, as there has been a significant reduction in the rate of accidents and absence from work. In 2011 the East Javanese government honored our affiliate P.T. Beiersdorf Indonesia for its commendable occupational safety record. It was awarded a “Zero Accident Award” in recognition of the exemplary culture of safety shared by all of the plant’s employees. A “Zero Accident” campaign in Thailand also helped to reduce the risk of accidents during manufacturing and in the warehouse. In manufacturing companies noise often leads to work-related strain. At our Tres Cantos plant in Spain, the level of noise on the filling lines in the production facility was significantly reduced by installing modern sound isolation booths in 2011.
In 2012 the Environmental Protection and Safety Management Audit Scheme (ESMAS) was extended. Audited affiliates had the opportunity to further develop themselves in the context of self-audits. For instance, now any measures to implement recommendations for improvement are documented in real time via a new tracking system. The production facility Beiersdorf Manufacturing Berlin (BMB) has applied this new system with great success. It has been shown in particular that the structured presentation of the packaged measures is extremely helpful in ongoing communication about work-safety and environmental protection. You can find out more about the ESMAS Audit Scheme here. ...more
In spring 2013 Beiersdorf AG Hamburg was once again honored by the Office for Occupational Safety as a company “with an exemplary health and safety system". Beiersdorf AG Hamburg ensures continuous improvement of occupational health and safety protection by using its applied safety management system. Beiersdorf AG Hamburg also employs numerous other measures, such as ergonomics and nutritional counseling, which contribute to the continuous improvement of the health and wellbeing of its employees.
Beiersdorf’s workplace health promotion program in Germany is inspired by the idea that prevention is better than cure. The program, which is being implemented in close cooperation with Beiersdorf’s occupational health insurance fund, aims to prevent illness through a wide range of measures, focusing on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. This includes initiatives to encourage cycling, ergonomic advice, and training on lifting and carrying techniques for the workplace. In addition, every year has different focus areas – such as a healthy diet, early detection of bowel cancer, or back health. At the center of the health promotion program in 2012 were resilience training programs and key measures for the early detection of breast cancer.
In 2012 a pilot project, called “GO-Kompakt” was initiated at our largest production plant Beiersdorf Manufacturing Hamburg, Germany. Employees were given a day off to attend check-ups with the in-house doctor as well as an interactive training day about health. Topics included for instance guidance on healthy eating during shift work, and the participants also learnt relaxation techniques. Further health checks will be made after six and again twelve months to monitor the state of health.
While the physical health of our employees is important, we have a common understanding within the company that mental health is equally important. Change processes and the constant pressure to adapt have become a normal part of today’s working environment and are handled differently by each individual. While continuous changes are often perceived as opportunities, they can also lead to overworked employees. In addition to changes within the company, pressures from the individual’s private environment can cause unpleasant reactions such as stress, mental fatigue or burnout. Therefore, the company has developed a catalog with several support measures to help combat mental stress. This includes for example; a cooperation agreement with a medical facility, which deals with such themes, executive seminars on burnout prevention, and the development of an occupational rehabilitation management program.
