Health and Wellness
The concept of health and wellness plays an important role in the lives of our employees, and at DSM we believe that organizational and safety performance are directly linked to the health and well-being of our employees. This link between health and organizational performance is demonstrated by a wide range of health-related initiatives occurring at local sites worldwide.
Initiatives
Our Global Health Management initiative involves a health promotion program for DSM employees including a web-based tool for helping employees to assess their health risks and to set themselves healthy lifestyle goals. This program is called DSM Vitality Checkpoint. Where DSM Vitality Checkpoint has been introduced, it has been combined with comprehensive health checkups and individual follow-up on any health issues identified. In 2008, 1414 DSM employees (response rate 91%), in both the Netherlands and the USA, participated in DSM Vitality Checkpoint. It is our aim to stimulate further roll-out in the organization in the coming years.
Whereas the DSM Vitality Checkpoint is a tool for the self-monitoring of health by employees, the DSM Personalized Nutrition System (DPNS), which was launched in 2008, creates possibilities for active, self-managed change. DPNS is a scientifically-validated nutritional management system that attempts to achieve long-term sustainable improvement in overall wellness. Supported by web-based interfaces, electronic feedback devices and behavioral change interventions, DPNS enables users to manage their food choices and activity levels.
Occupational illness
In 2008 a total of 18 Occupational Health Cases were reported, which is the same as in 2007. Reported cases feature physical troubles (11), psychological troubles (5) and allergic reactions (2).
As a follow-up action on the completeness check of our risk assessments for chemical substances in 2007, a new practice was implemented as a guide to performing risk assessments on the work floor. A web-based database and calculation tool are part of this practice. Furthermore, health-oriented audit checklists were developed and implemented and will be used as a pilot in one of the audits in 2009.
In addition, an Industrial Hygiene Network of specialists was established, which in 2009 will deliver the first joint industrial hygiene initiatives.
Safety
On August 28 a fatal accident occurred at DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Venlo, the Netherlands. A DSM employee was blown off an empty, clean, nitrogen-pressurized tank container while he was depressurizing the tank via the manhole. The manhole suddenly opened and he was lifted to a height of 15-20 meters. He fell to the concrete floor and died instantly.
In response to this tragic occurrence, all DSM units have reviewed their loading and unloading procedures. During the Global Manufacturing Conference held in Shanghai, China in November 2008, a ‘closing the safety loop’ initiative was started by Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of the DSM Managing Board.
DSM has set itself the target of reducing the FI (Frequency Index, the number of cases per 100 employees per year) of recordable injuries with 50% between 2005 and 2010. This target includes both DSM personnel and contractors. The FI for recordable injuries was 0.72 in 2008, compared to 0.95 in 2005, a reduction of 25%. The FI for Lost Workday Cases of our own employees fell from 0.33 in 2005 to 0.20 in 2008, a reduction of 40%.
Several units have demonstrated that our programs on compliance, behavior-based safety, training and learning from incidents are effective.
In addition to these programs, the 10 sites on which 40% of all our accidents happen have been urged to step up their efforts to improve their safety performance.
The most serious accidents are described in detail.
