Occupational health and safety

Article 964a ff. Code of Obligations

Concept and due diligence
Our concept for occupational health and safety is based on a three-pillar concept. The first pillar provides measures for prevention. The second pillar integrates absence management, which relates to interventions. The third pillar contains case management, which promotes integration or re-integration. All three pillars are supported and developed together with the relevant stakeholders – Group Management, managers, HR employees, business partners, as well as social partners. The production managers, HR managers and the works council are responsible for occupational health and safety. In addition to this, specific people are designated as responsible within the individual companies.

Measures including evaluation of effectiveness
Risk avoidance and health protection are central topics in all employee training at Arbonia. We continually analyse the processes internally and externally; for example, through special workplace inspections together with the responsible people. If accidents occur, they are immediately analysed and measures are initiated to minimise the risk of accidents in future. To avoid and identify health risks to employees early on, we hold leadership courses for supervisors on a regular basis. Employees can take advantage of professional company medical care as well as preventative medical check-ups. During the reporting year, we further expanded the health management system and took specific measures to minimise non-occupational accidents as well. These include courses for stress management, first aid courses and psychological support services. The measures are aligned with the needs of the workforce via corresponding employee surveys.

Material risks and how they are handled (own scope of business and, where applicable, business relationships)
Consistent occupational safety is also an important topic for us due to its impact on the operating activities of the companies: Each accident and downtime causes additional costs. The consequences can be a slowdown or downtimes in production. This is associated with reputational damage and a lower work morale.

Key performance indicators
The key performance indicators for occupational health and safety are the proportion of employees covered by an appropriate management system, the absence rate, the accident frequency rate, the accident severity rate and the number of deaths. Details can be found in the table on page 81.

Mehr Informationen Schliessen

As Arbonia, we ensure a health and safety culture at a high level by operating safe production plants as well as distribution and logistics sites. This involves the prevention of accidents and injuries, continuous risk analysis with derived measures, as well as proactive heath promotion in the workplace. The aim is to lower absences, prevent illnesses and reduce mental and physical stress.

All of our sites fulfil the legal regulations for the respective countries, which means that we could in principle apply for certification according to OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001. This has not been necessary so far, though.

Key figures for occupational health and safety

¹ The survey method used at multiple companies was changed in 2023, which means that the key figures are not comparable.

Climate Division

Prevention thanks to training and process optimisation

All employees of the Climate Division receive safety and fire protection instruction tailored to their workplace on an annual basis. Internal and external safety training is regularly offered by the division – training to be a first aider and company paramedic, for example, is offered every year. The employees also have access to all relevant training courses of their respective employers’ liability association.

Employees are consistently involved in designing the occupational safety systems through their valuable suggestions for improvement. At the Plattling (D) site, all work processes are regularly reviewed – with the aim of minimising physically difficult or stressful activities through technical support or the use of machines. In administration, individual work situations are continually optimised through regular inspections by the company doctors – for example, by using height-adjustable desks. In Corbetta (IT), internal area inspections and hazard analyses are also standard for all workplaces. Employees benefit from health insurance that provides preventative medical check-ups for the entire family. The employees of the division are provided with the protective equipment and work safety clothing necessary for their work free of charge. In addition, defibrillators are available at all locations. If accidents or illnesses should occur, shift paramedics and first aiders are available. Internal statistics on the sickness and accident rates allow a monthly overview of the current situation at all companies.

A wide range of measures

With the “Jobcycle” initiative, the Climate Division provided employees at the Plattling (D) site with access to e-bikes during the reporting year. An opportunity to quit smoking was also offered through the health working group. Further support services included shoulder/neck screening and a presentation on healthy eating in the workplace.

Doors Division

Health promotion, prevention and training

Company health programmes are also offered in the Doors Division. Examples include the “Focus on People” platform at the Glass Solutions Business Unit and a comprehensive range of courses and training. Employees can also take advantage of professional company medical care as well as preventative medical check-ups. Various committees of the companies (occupational safety committee, health working group, works council committee, occupational health and safety protection) hold regular meetings to analyse the current situation and develop suitable measures. The division also promises its customers in every work contract to maintain the highest standards in respect to occupational safety. External business partners who work on the business premises of the division also communicate and apply the same safety rules. All employees of the Doors Division have access to subsidised, occupational health services and health promotion programmes such as fitness, yoga and Pilates. Health problems such as back pain are actively addressed with ergonomic workplaces.

In the reporting year, Invado installed two new automatic unloading units – one for flat doors and one for adjustable frames. Both units also have a sorting feature which saves time and takes the strain off employees during assembly. A door buffer station was also set up behind the machining centres, eliminating the manual work in this area. Automation solutions of this kind were implemented at the other companies a long time ago – taking the strain off employees and increasing effectiveness.

RWD Schlatter has its own health management system which is looked after by a five-person health panel. Current topics are discussed on a regular basis in collaboration with those responsible for Arbonia’s company health management scheme and measures are initiated as appropriate.

Some of the measures developed and implemented by the health panel include:

Continually reviewed targets

In addition to internal reviews, the division also relies on regular feedback from external agencies to help achieve its targets. The division receives important feedback through area inspections by the industrial inspectorate and trade unions as well as from external safety audits. Occupational safety is also continually checked and evaluated at Garant, Prüm, RWD Schlatter and Invado. At Invado, this check also comprises analysis of the results of work environment tests (e.g. noise, weights) and medical examinations as well as the performance of risk assessments in the workplace. Occupational safety is further ensured by continuous inspections of work conditions and machine efficiency as well as ongoing safety training for employees.