Safety

Ensuring the safety of our workers is an inherent part of everyday life and management across the company. Ruukki’s management and all employees are committed to complying with, maintaining and developing common safety principles and rules of play. A good safety record is a competitive asset and also a sign of quality, efficient operations.

Competent, experienced people, safe equipment, processes and working practices, together with high-profile safety management, are key to our safety work. In 2011, we focused especially on proactive safety work to improve the level of safety.

Safety management principles at Ruukki

• All accidents and near-misses are reported and investigated.
• Corrective and preventative actions are planned, implemented and their effectiveness is monitored.
• Working conditions, job dangers and risks are constantly monitored, assessed and managed.
• Health and safety matters are openly communicated.
• Workplaces are kept in proper order and ways of working have been standardised.

Safety is part of line organisation work

Safety at Ruukki is part of strategic planning and targets are set for each strategy period at a time. This work is the responsibility of the corporate Safety Management Team, which is chaired by the executive vice president of Ruukki Construction. Practical implementation is the responsibility of the Safety Steering Group, which, together with the line organisation and safety specialists, is tasked with preparing and implementing the assignments given by the Safety Management Team.

The line organisation is responsible for safety management and the prevention of accidents in its own areas of responsibility and works with divisional and unit safety specialists in safety matters. All Ruukki employees are responsible their own safety and wellbeing and that of their colleagues at their own workplaces.

Safety progress monitored by corporate-wide indicators and a safety tool

All accidents and near-misses are reported, investigated and lessons learnt. Safety information is managed through a corporate-wide reporting system, which is available in 16 different languages. The safety level is monitored using two indicators - accident and safety action frequency - at all organisational levels and reported monthly to top management. The general operating principles and working practices are described in corporate safety instructions.

Our work on the safety front has delivered results, with a decrease in accident frequency from a level of 32 in 2004 to a current level of 8.