Occupational health and safety

GRI 403-1, GRI 403-2, GRI 403-3,G4-EUS-LA6, SDG3, SDG8

At 50Hertz, protecting the health and safety of employees is the highest priority, as is underscored by the guideline on occupational health and safety, which is binding for all employees. The occupational health and safety area oversees a company-wide occupational safety management system pursuant to OHSAS 18001. The occupational safety management system was again successfully certified according to OHSAS 18001:2007 in November 2017.

Occupational health and safety and injury and illness prevention are integrated into our corporate strategy and practiced by all employees as they go about their daily business. Every employee is instructed on how to be conscious of hazards, report them immediately and submit suggestions for promoting safe and healthy working conditions. In the fiscal year, occupational health and safety was once again one of the key projects in 50Hertz’s business plan. In 2018, the large-scale campaign “gib8” (pay attention) was initiated in order to raise employees’ and suppliers’ awareness of issues relating to occupational health and safety. By taking specific measures and providing information material, the campaign has a direct impact on potentially endangered areas and addresses a variety of specific target groups. The personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by workers is always kept up to date, new PPE is weartested and the catalogue is adapted in line with the respective requirements.

Occupational health and safety is not limited to our own employees. The stringent 50Hertz standards also apply to contracted companies working on 50Hertz construction sites. During the contracting process and later via IT-supported construction monitoring by specially trained 50Hertz employees, it is ensured that suppliers comply with 50Hertzʼs strict safety requirements. Special instructions for guaranteeing occupational safety when contracting external companies for work in the scope of the 50Hertz transmission grid (OAFN) have been transparently and bindingly regulating this since May 2018.

Accident statistics

During the 2018 reporting year, three reportable accidents occurred at 50Hertz. We therefore met our target for accident rate and accident severity in 2018. With the aim of avoiding future accidents at work, each accident was thoroughly evaluated and mitigating measures concerning occupational safety taken from this and implemented.

At 11 in total, the number of work-related accidents in contracted companies declined compared with the prior year. In 2018, 2017 and 2016 there were also no fatalities.

¹ Number of work-related accidents resulting in downtime (≥1 day) x 1,000,000/Number of hours actually worked.
² Number of days lost due to work-related accidents in calendar days x 1,000/Number of hours actually worked.

Health promotion

The early recognition and prevention of work-related illnesses, as well as maintaining the employability of staff are also integral components of occupational health and safety at 50Hertz. To achieve these goals, 50Hertz provides appropriate occupational medical care, which primarily focuses on personal protectionand prevention of health risks. In addition, 50Hertz regularly provides all of its employees with occupational medical consultations, vaccinations and advice on ergonomics in the workplace. A qualified and confidential external consultation is made available at all times in the event of personal stress, conflicts or addiction issues. Employees can also participate in various public events like the “Berlin Team Relayrace”, the “HSH Nordbank Run” benefiting the children’s charity“Kinder helfen Kindern” (Children helping Children), the bicycle race “Jedermann-Radrennen Cyclassics” in Hamburg or the“Rennsteig-Herbstlauf” run in Thuringia.

Safety inspections

From 1 July 2017, all new contracts at 50Hertz include an agreement for quality assurance on construction sites, including an unrestricted right for 50Hertz to carry out checks. If the required standards are not met, there is a penalty point system, as well as an escalation model system. In this connection, further measures for future compliance with safety regulations are set out by binding rules. 1,159 construction site inspections were planned for 2018. With 1,190 inspections performed (as of December2018) this target was exceeded.

Safety trainings

Employees in the professional departments are instructed six times per year, those in the engineering and commercial departments once per year. We also conduct an annual occupational safety competition to further raise awareness and motivate our staff. On the one hand, the number of prior-year accidents for each location is taken into consideration and on theother, knowledge on occupational safety is tested and deepened in a practical section that differs every year.