Accidents at work: The goal is zero
02/2020
Following a planning and preparation phase, the first training sessions began in May at 30 CWS locations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. These are being held virtually at present on account of the corona crisis, for example in the form of interactive webinars. Those taking part include the local management teams and QESH officers as well as employees from HR departments and works councils. The training series is divided into three consecutive modules, each of which corresponds to a possible complex of accident causes.
Responsibilities
The first module concerned the necessity for clearly defined responsibilities. “Occupational safety is always a management task as well”, says Mathias Peter from the Swiss QESH team. "Accidents are more likely to happen if it has not been unambiguously determined who is responsible for what where safety is concerned. During the training, we among other things updated the existing central QESH guideline for management personnel and started an improvement plan for the Kriens location."
Risk reduction
In module 2, the participants concern themselves with the correct assessment and effective reduction of health and safety risks. This involves knowing about legal requirements and existing standards but also knowing risks and developing measures for improvement.
Risk awareness
Module 3, in turn, revolves around the issue of how to raise the risk awareness of all CWS employees . The focus here is on training in safe working methods and requirements with the ultimate purpose of bringing about positive changes in conduct.
In the interest of further improving safety and health in the company in the long term, the three modules are scheduled to be held step-by-step at all CWS locations in Europe.
"I think there is one thing we should all understand", says Sabine Hesselbein, Plant Manager HealthCare at CWS in Warburg, who took part in the first module. "Safety in the workplace also means job security. If we manage to cut the number of accidents and accident-related absences to zero, we will not only improve our own health but also that of the whole CWS family."