INDICATOR: 11.9.5
Worker participation, consultation and communication on occupational health and safety
Percentage of total workforce represented in formal joint management– worker health and safety committees that help monitor and advise on occupational health and safety programs:
All staff (100%) are represented. The committees participate in regular meetings with management and make recommendations on improvements in the workplace with regards to Health and Safety.
Health & Safety issues that are covered by the formal agreements with trade unions:
See also Certification Index (GRI 2-24), OHSAS 18001/ELOT 1801 certification.
Health and Safety issues, agreed in collective agreements with employees’ unions, refer to the Internal Labor Regulations, which is accessible on the corporate intranet.
An agreement is signed among the Group’s companies and the relevant employee unions concerning safety personnel in the case of a strike.
- Internal Protection and Prevention Service operates under PD95/1999; aiming at monitoring employees’ occupational health, maintaining hygienic conditions, and taking protective measures to avoid accidents.
- Occupational Health and Safety Committee in each facility, consisting of elected employee representatives, in accordance with Law 1568/1985, representing all employees. Any employee of each facility (100%) may participate in the elections. The committees participate in periodic meetings with the facility management making suggestions for Health and Safety improvements in their workplace. Minutes of the meetings are published, including the progress of implementation of the agreed ones. The dates of the meetings are included in the annual report of the Internal Protection and Prevention Service to the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Social Solidarity.
Relevant references on Health and Safety at work are found in:
- HELPE R.S.S.O.P.P.’s Internal Regulation (Articles 8, 19, 35)
- EKO’s Internal Regulation (Articles 9, 12, 23) and
- Group’s Code of Conduct (chapter 7.1).
Outsourced Protection & Prevention Services: Where appropriate (e.g. during periods of general maintenance), additional properly qualified external partners are mobilized, relevant indicators are monitored, and the provisions of relevant labor legislation.
Health and Safety issues are covered 100% by local agreements or regulations or official procedures, the Health and Safety Employees’ Commission, with the participation of a Safety Technician and Occupational Physician, at periodic Health & Safety meetings with colleagues at other Group’s facilities, also as part of the Internal Protection and Prevention Service activities.
There are also formal agreements in place covering issues such as the:
- Provision and use of personal protection equipment
- Participation of employee representatives in inspections
- Education and information
- Submission of complaints
- Right to refuse performing dangerous work
EKO CYPRUS
There are two safety committees in EKO CYPRUS LTD, their constitution and their role is governed by legislation. Every three years the members are elected by the staff. Members of the two security committees (one for Nicosia and one for Larnaca) represent workers on all health and safety issues.
OKTA
In OKTA, local agreements cover issues such as: Personal protective equipment; Participation of employee representatives in health and safety inspections, audits, and accident investigations; Training and education; Right to refuse unsafe work; Periodic inspections. The Union has appointed representatives for occupational health and safety at work that participate on regular meetings with the management and provide comments and proposals for improvement of health and safety topics in OKTA. There are regular health and safety trainings that are held to employees by HSE employees and specialized companies.
DIAXON
In DIAXON, there are training programs for safety and hygiene for the employees, because this sector is extremely important to the principles of the Group (Code of Conduct, Related Health and Safety Policy, DIAXON Internal Regulations (Article 8) and, due to the standard for food safety BRC/IOP Issue 6: Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, on the other hand, it derives from the relevant law (Law 3850, Government Gazette A (NO: 84) 2/6/2010, ARTICLE 48).
EKO BULGARIA
In accordance with local legislation, there is a Work Conditions Committee, which includes representatives of the employees and the management and provides for a dialogue between the employer and employees on health and safety issues. The company has a Health and Safety Service provider (required by law), which performs risk assessments of the work places, audits and reviews all relevant practices and documents and performs yearly health and safety trainings for all employees.