Zero injuries to people is the goal on the terms of which Kemira operates. Every site is committed to the targets and standards set by the company itself. In many cases it means that a higher demand is put on safety than required by local legislation.
“In the chemical industry, safety and protection of the environment are critically important. Our stakeholders expect perfect reliability from us”, says Tomas Ljungqvist, Vice President, Environment, Health, Safety and Quality.
Ljungqvist notes that caring for people and the environment are Kemira’s core values. “EHSQ standards and our other internal standards and practices set for our operations a global minimum level that we cannot fall short of. This applies also to our subcontractors.”
In 2013 Kemira introduced the new EHSQ (Environment, Health, Safety and Quality) strategy. By implementing new internal standards and practices, and developing a zero injury culture, the company strives to become world-class in safety.
Commitment to safety brings results
In everyday life, the new practices show in even more attention being paid to safety than before. Good results have been achieved already in a short time. In 2013, safety observations increased by 40 per cent on the previous year. Ljungqvist notes that it indicates the employees’ and subcontractors’ commitment.
Safety observations mean that problems are perceived and can be dealt with proactively before any damage occurs. Indeed, during 2013, the number of personal injuries decreased by 15 per cent throughout the whole group. In addition, by the end of the year as many as 69 per cent of the sites had earned the OHSAS 18001 certification, indicating good safety management at work. Target is 100 per cent at the end of 2015.
As on example, in some of Kemira’s European plants, the staff organised a competition looking for safety shortcomings in order that they could be fixed. Awareness and know-how in safety and environmental matters are improving continuously.
Ljungqvist points out that safety is created by everyone’s own habits. “We hope that the safety thinking we have built at the work place follows our employees to their homes and is reflected, for example, in the manner they drive their cars. The driver must see to it that also the passenger’s seat belt is fastened.” Caring for others safety as a team is a key to success.
Responsibility has been an essential part of Kemira’s core values, but nonetheless, the adoption of new standards take time. Ljungqvist believes that the zero injuries goal will be reached. “The new strategy and the targets associated with it give a lot of energy to the employees. I have seen people’s commitment and am very proud of being involved.”