Page 18 - Economy_CSR

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3.3 A focus on health and safety

In its Green Paper, the European Commission underlines that health and safety at work are two essential
issues in CSR that have been traditionally approached by national legislations and enforcement measures.
Nevertheless, with the development of work outsourcing and companies being more depending on the
health and safety performance of suppliers and contractors, CSR is gaining importance. Most companies
code of conduct include health and safety rules. Companies also promote health and safety performance
as marketing arguments to the consumers purchasing their products. The demand for measuring,
communicating and documenting occupational, safety and health performance is increasing. These are
now included in procurement contracts and many certifications notably. One example is the Swedish TCO
Labeling scheme which aims to stimulate a safer occupational environment paying specific attention to
equipment.

In the ILO tripartite declaration it is stated that companies should maintain the highest level of health and
safety standards in conformity with national standards bearing in mind their relevant experience
including in preventing specific hazards.

Compensation should be given to workers who have been victim of occupational accidents and diseases
an adequate preventive culture should be put into place.

The Ethical Trading Initiative ETI Base Code gives further indication on safety and hygiene also highlighting
the need for hazard minimization. It advices to give workers regular and recorded health and safety
training that should be repeated for new or reassigned workers and the need to assign responsibility for
health and safety to a senior management representative.