|
The overall injury rate has clearly decreased in the Orion Group. The good result of 2009 was influenced in particular by the notably reduced accidents at the Turku pharmaceutical plant. In other units, injury rates grew slightly from the previous year. Typical accidents include tripping and slipping, getting hurt by objects and being subject to sudden physical strain. Fermion’s Hanko plant has shown the relatively highest rate ofinjuries having led to absenteeism.
The Group has not had any cases of occupational diseases caused by chemicals. In 2009, one case of noise-induced occupational disease was reported in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The number of commuting injuries causing absence of 3 or more days was lower in 2009 than in 2008, and less work time was lost due to injuries. The most common commuting injuries were caused by falling, slipping or tripping or falling with a bicycle. One commuting accident in 2009 resulted in a fatality. A pharmaceutical representative employed by Orion’s German subsidiary lost his life in a car accident in Germany.
Aiming at zero accident rate
Orion aims to achieve a zero accident rate. To this end, we actively report and investigate accidents and hazardous situations, assess risks regularly and systematically, improve the working conditions, working environment, processes and methods and organise safety training to enhance the employees’ attitudes, awareness and alertness.
Orion’s accident statistics are very good when compared with the averages of the Responsible Care programme based on statistics that cover 105 chemical companies and their 20,7000 employees in Finland. According to the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland (see chemind.fi website), there were 9.6 accidents per million working hours in the companies participating in the programme. This is 21 per cent less than in 2008. A total of 942 hours of work time was lost per million working hours. This is 10 per cent less than in 2008. Positive development is due to active and independent efforts by the companies to improve occupational safety and personnel competence.
Occupational Safety Card is one of the most visible means of safety development. In 2009, some 80 per cent of the companies in the Responsible Care programme used the card. To date, some 1,200 Orion employees have passed the Occupational Safety Card training course. Orion aims to have all laboratory and production employees trained for the card. |