Health & safety

Lafarge is the safest company in its sector, but its aim is to be among the safest companies in any sector, through continuous improvement and personal engagement of everybody. Examples of how this is being achieved include:

• setting and exceeding challenging targets to reduce incidents;
• rigorously implementing world-class standards for the main risks;
• engaging all employees through visible leadership at all levels;
• campaigning relentlessly to support changes in attitude and behavior;
• recognizing and rewarding the best performers from business units to individuals.

Lafarge has come a long way on its journey but recognizes it has further to go to achieve zero incidents and occupational illnesses. That's why Health & Safety is the Group's number one priority.    

As part of its ambition to provide every employee worldwide with the same access to health assessments, Lafarge has developed a standard operational procedure (SOP), which includes additional examinations for employees exposed to specific risks (working at height, etc.). This procedure is a key element of the strategic Health Roadmap. These assessments must be standardized for all employees and established in all countries where the Group is present by 2015.

An example in Tanzania

In Tanzania, 22 jobs were analyzed by the BU to determine the hazards and level of risk they present to the employees who are exposed. Medical criteria were listed for each job to ensure that workers are fit for work and any underlying health conditions were not worsened. Out of around 40 risks identified at the site, 7 were then subject to in-depth analysis: dust, noise, ergonomic issues (lifting and handling work), lighting, welding fumes, vibrations... and mosquitoes!    

In order to respond effectively to an incident, every Unit must have a procedure in case of medical emergencies, regularly updated and known by everyone. This means that first aid, contacting the emergency services and transport to the closest hospital are all optimized in order to minimize complications of the injury to the casualty. The Group puts in place all means available to facilitate the return to work.    

The Group is pursuing its program to prevent HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases (malaria and tuberculosis) in sub-Saharan Africa. All countries in this zone have developed a public health program (regular information, free access to diagnosis and treatments, counseling and education).

Based on its experience in Africa, the Group has developed a methodological guide which now allows other countries to benefit from their good practices, as Lafarge committed in its Ambitions 2012. In 2010, Russia and Ukraine were successfully trained in this methodology and they have been able to develop their programs on cardiovascular diseases.    

Employee security in "at-risk" countries is also a priority. Lafarge is strengthening protection for people and property by:

• enhancing access protection to sites,
• optimizing processes for procurement and storage of explosives at Group sites.