Health and safety

Océ’s worldwide employee Health and Safety policy is based on meeting statutory regulations, but the aim of creating the best possible working conditions for the people who create Océ’s success sets much higher targets. Océ considers an uncompromisingly safe and healthy workplace as one of the most important “licenses to operate”. Workplace-related incidents causing injuries are among the main indicators of a company’s safety record. However, long-term effects due to unfavorable working conditions or personal lifestyle characteristics are often difficult to trace, especially when they do not lead directly to lost time.

For this reason both in Venlo [Netherlands] and Poing [Germany] special programs are in place for voluntary health assessments by employees. In Poing medical check-ups and interviews encourage employees to “stay 40 for 20 years” by adjusting their lifestyles. After ten years of employment, employees are entitled to a three week active “health course”. At Océ headquarters in Venlo, management and the Works Council have agreed to roll out a “health monitor” for all employees. Results are confidential, and are shared with management only in aggregated form as assessment and input for possible improvements.

A number of health- and safety-related measures have been taken by the HSE steering groups, comprising both management and employee representatives. Measures include medical examinations, first aid training [including the use of Automated External Defibrillators] and site safety training and ergonomics. Océ UK has gained OHSAS 18001 certification for its occupational health and safety management system.

Safety

Océ’s production background including use of hazardous substances has greatly helped to build a framework of safety measures to identify, evaluate, handle and eventually eliminate hazardous substances as far as possible. Part of that structure is to make employees aware of possible dangers and to convince them of the importance of obeying the safety rules and measures. As primary responsibilities of line management, health and safety form an integral part of everyday work. Nevertheless, regular updates and reminders are necessary to maintain high safety awareness and prevent possible danger. No decision to start new activities or make new investments is made without considering possible safety issues.

Océ carries out regular Risk Identification & Evaluation [RI&E] analyses throughout the company. These allow improvement to be monitored and suggested improvements to be evaluated. At the production sites in Venlo [Netherlands] and Poing [Germany], significant risks to people and property are minimized by formal measures such as permanent medical officers, trained first aiders and a company fire service. All incidents are reported to make Océ’s safety performance clear.

Hazardous substances

In R&D projects, researchers frequently work with [potentially] hazardous substances. It is therefore important to collect necessary knowledge about the impact of these materials so appropriate safety measures can be taken.

Océ-Technologies implemented an improved system of handling hazardous substances in 2007. The system received special attention from TNO (Netherlands organisation for applied scientific research), which used it as a best-practice example for Dutch SMEs in tackling safety hazards at the source. The system is based on a thorough Health, Safety & Environment analysis of all substances to be used during a project phase by a group of R&D specialists. This knowledge then allows safety measures for engineering and production to be taken. Alternatives are sought for specific materials that pose unacceptable safety risks to people or the environment. Working methods have also been updated, for example ordering procedures for chemicals. The system is combined with a stringent Risk Identification & Evaluation for all laboratories.