One of the main tasks of all employees and management is to ensure our work is safety-oriented. Our overriding goal is to minimize the hazards and risks associated with the production, warehousing and use of our products. This also includes the safe transport and disposal of goods. It is therefore necessary to take health and safety aspects into account during the development of new products and processes.

Security is based on three key components:

• Qualified staff
• Technical measures
• Organizational arrangements

Only if all these areas are treated with equal rigor while being constantly checked and improved, optimal protection against short-, medium- or long-term risks can be achieved.

Every employee knows best of specific problems and opportunities for improvement throughout their individual workplace. Therefore, the involvement of as many people as possible in safety issues, their ongoing training as well as a permanent provision of information about safety-related issues are among the most important tasks of any manager.

Technical security measures should include:

• Automatic sprinkler systems in all fire-risk areas
• Limitation of hazardous material inventory and the smallest possible flammable areas
• Concrete cells with blast release areas
• Modern, computerized process controls" 

Organizational measures include:

• An effective and comprehensive safety organization with competent bodies to deal with all aspects of safety
• The ongoing analysis of all risks of a plant (“screening“) and if necessary, the elimination or minimization of the risks.
• The thorough follow-up of each incident, accident or near-accident and elimination of the cause

Safe production and use of our products requires the constant exchange of ideas and experience between all stakeholders. An open and trusting cooperation with the relevant authorities is therefore just as important as ongoing communication with suppliers, customers and other manufacturers. This also includes our participation in the drafting of workable laws and regulations.

Globally, the United Initiators’ sites refer to local standard regarding Occupational Health and Risk Management Systems.

The employees’ health and their ability to work play an important role in the company’s economic success. Health is closely related to safety, so both behaving in accordance with the safety regulations, and a safe plant are prerequisites for protecting the health of our employees.

Only employees who fulfil the health requirements for any particular task are allowed to conduct that task. We actively support our employees in maintaining their health and well-being. An intensive risk assessment provides the basis for preventative occupational medical examinations.

Alcohol and drugs endanger an employee’s own health and that of their colleagues. We therefore enforce an absolute ban on alcohol and drugs on all our sites throughout the company.