Occupational Health & Safety
Providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees is a primary concern for Novo Nordisk and an integrated part of the social responsibility.
Traditionally, the company’s occupational health and safety (OH&S) practices have been based on local standards related to local legislation.
The increasing globalisation of the company requires a more global approach and from 2008 OH&S has been a part of the agenda of the Environmental, Bioethics and OH&S Committee (EBOC).
EBOC is the company's highest authority with regard to environmental, bioethical and occupational health & safety (EBO) issues.
The committee works on behalf of Executive Management, to ensure:
- Novo Nordisk’s interests and needs regarding EBO issues are met
- Novo Nordisk compliance with the charter of the Novo Group.
Performance 2008
Performance on the health & safety indicator ‘frequency of occupational injuries’ was satisfactory, as the frequency decreased from 5.9 to 5.4 in 2008, meeting the target of a continuous decrease. There were no fatalities in 2008.
Global occupational health & safety management
EBOC has decided to execute global governance on OH&S by developing global OH&S standards and processes and to improve the data collection to monitor the global OH&S performance.
This development has already started in the entire Danish organisation as well as for the Novo Nordisk production facilities in France, the US, Brazil, China and Japan, which has implemented an Occupational Health & Safety Management System based on OHSAS 18001. A comprehensive training programme for OH&S reps/coordinators and selected managers has been performed both in Product Supply and R&D.
The further globalisation is prepared by a baseline analysis which is conducted to identify the most appropriate manner to drive the further implementation of OH&S management as a value adding activity, protecting people, facilities and reputation and promoting well being.
Entire organisation now certified
In 2008 Product Supply has obtained OH&S certificates covering the entire organisation. Furthermore Product Supply has decided on an ambitious plan to reduce ergonomic strain and to reduce the severity rate of occupational injuries in the coming 3 years.
Internal and external health & safety audits
During 2008, OH&S internal audits have been performed in the part of the organisation which has implemented the OH&S management system. By and large the overall performance is good, but a number of nonconformities have been identified and preventive and corrective actions initiated as well as other improvements.
In Denmark the Working Environment Authority has performed a number of inspections as a part of a national campaign covering all enterprises. The inspections have shown that even though Novo Nordisk in general maintain a high level of prevention and has well functioning systems, suggestions for improvement were given. The concluded inspections have resulted in 3 observations of non-compliance which all have been met as agreed upon.
Novo Nordisk's approach
Elements of a healthy workplace include the physical attributes of the workplace as well as the measures taken to prevent occupational injuries. Psychological factors such as job stress, job security and employability, management practices, non-discrimination, empowerment and the development opportunities also contribute to a healthy working environment.
Novo Nordisk's Health and Safety Policy states that the company will 'set high standards and continuously improve health and safety performance as a natural part of Novo Nordisk’s social responsibility'. Novo Nordisk is determined to bring the work environment of the entire global organisation into compliance with the targets of this policy. Today, some discrepancies exist, partly due to local legislation and to varying degrees of compliance with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
The results of the ongoing baseline study will determine the strategy to meet these challenges.
Focus on prevention
The Novo Nordisk Way of Management and the company policies apply throughout the organisation and serve as the framework for the management tools that drive and monitor performance. Performance date serve as a base for sharing better practices and for developing a common approach to health and safety work.
The target for the global organisation is a continuous decrease in the number of occupational injuries.
More indicators will be available in the years to come.
Occupational Health and Safety
Much effort is focused on prevention and proactive measures. Preventive and corrective actions taken in connection with occupational accidents and near misses must be reported, dealt with and documented in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
In recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses, Novo Nordisk follows the ILO Code of Practice as well as local legislation. Novo Nordisk has adopted the ILO Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981. To encourage continued focus and motivate additional efforts on occupational health and safety, a Novo Nordisk Occupational Health & Safety Award is given each year. The award for 2007 was given to a new cold store in Bagsvaerd, where an innovative solution has utilised a high degree of automatisation to obtain less ergonomic strain, less exposure for cold environment and reduced the risk of slipping accidents. On the top of these achievements the energy consumption is reduced compared to a conventional solution – and the investment is fully competitive.
