Health and safety

The Bekaert safety policy is deployed through the Safety Tree model and monitored via the Bekaert Safety Evaluation System (BEKSES). In 2015, BEKSES audits (based on OHSAS 18001) were carried out on a global scale and action plans were defined. In newly acquired plants and plants recently added to the consolidation perimeter, special efforts were made to align local safety management and practices with the worldwide Bekaert approach. 

To increase safety awareness even further, Bekaert included all recordable incidents (versus lost-time accidents) in its 2015 internal safety reports.

Because we attach great importance to a healthy working environment, we continued to invest in automated handling equipment and other workplace ergonomics in 2015.

In our plant in Slatina (Romania), various initiatives were organized with the aim to stimulate our team and their families to more often use healthy alternatives for transport. 

Over the course of the year, our plants worldwide have organized various local vitality initiatives such as healthy food campaigns, sports activities and mental health projects.

In 2015 61% of all Bekaert employees were covered by the OHSAS 18001 standard. 

Of the on average 27 hours of training per employee, 7 hours were safety related.

Severity Index = Number of lost days due to occupational accidents per thousand worked hours.

Combined numbers include the results of the Bekaert consolidated plants and those of joint-ventures and associated companies. 

In 2015 both the repeatability and severity index increased compared to 2014. This was a result of footprint changes such as the acquisition/consolidation of entities where safety performance is subject to improvement as part of their integration process within the Bekaert Group, a trend we see as of mid-2015.