__________________________________________________________________________________________________ GeSI Guidelines The standards within these guidelines are to help promote safe and fair working conditions as well as responsible, social, environmental and ethics management by promoting sustainability standards across all GeSI Member’s supply chain. Companies are encouraged to implement the requirements contained in these guidelines and go further in implementing key performance indicators (KPI’s) to measure performance. Companies are also encouraged to take all reasonable measures to promote and secure compliance of these guidelines with their suppliers, sub-contractors, and employees. Companies applying the guidelines are expected to comply with all relevant laws, regulations and standards in all of the countries in which they operate and to go beyond compliance to applicable laws, drawing upon internationally recognized standards, taking responsibility to continually improve social and environmental conditions and ethical behavior. Health and Safety Companies following these guidelines are committed to operating in accordance with international standards and local laws. Providing employees, contractors, partners, or others with a safe and healthy working environment and ensuring correct use of products is strongly encouraged. GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 1 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. General Requirements Companies are encouraged to implement a Health & Safety management system in accordance with OHSAS 18001. In addition, GeSI encourages companies to comply with at least one of the following: Performing and maintaining a comprehensive risk assessment Define appropriate method statements to mitigate any risks Develop, implement, and follow an appropriate health and safety plan Have appropriate systems and processes in place to monitor any failures Appoint a senior management representative to be responsible for implementing processes to ensure a safe and healthy workplace environment for all personnel 2. Organization Companies are encouraged to develop and implement programs to ensure that all employees are competent to carry out the health and safety aspects of their responsibilities and duties. Programs should include the nomination and training of personnel at appropriate levels, particularly executives who are responsible for implementing the company’s Health and Safety obligations. 3. Product and Services Delivery Products and/or services delivery should meet general principles of Health and Safety risk prevention. General principles include: Identification of hazards Minimizing and preventing hazards GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 2 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Utilizing competent and trained people Providing and maintaining safe equipment and tools including personal protective equipment 4. Occupational Safety Exposure and potential safety risks to employees should be assessed and controlled through proper preventive actions. These risks might lead to accidents/injuries or occurrence of occupational disease if preventative actions are not implemented. Proper preventative actions include: Proper design Engineering and administrative control Preventative maintenance and safe work procedures On-going safety training Maintaining personal protective equipment properly 5. Accident and Emergency Readiness Companies can identify and assess potential emergency situations and events, and minimize their impact by implementing the following plans and procedures: Creating and following an emergency plan Creating evacuation procedures Providing employee training and drills Providing appropriate fire detection, sufficient fire extinguishers, adequate exit facilities Following a recovery plan Companies should implement systems and training to prepare for and respond to accidents and health problems. Readiness for accidents and unforeseeable emergency situations include: GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 3 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Providing a means for recording incidents Investigating and implementing learning points from accidents and emergency situations 6. Occupational Injury and Illness Companies should implement procedures and systems to analyze, prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness. Provisions to include: Encourage employee reporting Classify and record injury and illness cases Root cause and analysis of injury and illnesses Provide necessary medical treatment and equipment 7. Exposures to Hazardous Elements The exposure of employees to dangerous/hazardous substances (including chemical, high temperature, and radiation) should be identified, evaluated, and controlled. To control exposure, companies can implement engineering controls (e.g. improvement of production facility) or administrative controls (e.g. law and regulations). When hazards cannot be adequately controlled using engineering or administrative controls, employee health can be protected by the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment. 8. Equipment Safeguarding GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 4 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Equipment, production machines and other machinery should be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks, and barriers should be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to employees. 9. Sanitation, Food and Housing Facilities and amenities, including employee housing where provided by the company, should be hygienic, safe, and meet the basic needs of employees. Employees are to be provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities, potable water and sanitary food preparation, storage and eating facilities. Employee dormitories where provided are to be maintained, cleaned and safe. Dormitories should also provide: Appropriate emergency exits Clean water for drinking or bathing and showering Adequate heat and ventilation Reasonable personal space Reasonable entry and exit 10. Overall Health and Safety Companies can observe the following overall guidelines to ensure there is awareness and monitoring of compliance at all levels. Guidelines including: Wear seat belts when travelling in or operating vehicles Using suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Wearing a safety harness and fall protection equipment when working at heights Attaching harnesses at all times when working at heights GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 5 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Never carrying out electrical work on electrical equipment, circuits and gear without appropriate qualifications and compliance to regulations Never working under the influence of substances (alcohol or drugs) which are illegal or in excess of legal levels or where this impairs ability to perform tasks Never using a hand held phone while driving and only making calls by pulling over or using hands free devices, when it is safe to do so Never exceeding speed limits or travelling at speeds which are dangerous for the type of road, vehicle, or conditions GeSI Measurements and Continuous Improvements Management System Companies and Suppliers should create and maintain a management system and a set of documents and records to ensure regulatory compliance and conformity that includes the following: Improvement Objective Establish performance objectives, targets and implementation plans to continuously improve social and environmental performance. Measurements of these objectives are used to monitor compliance to requirements. Suppliers are encouraged to use a Plan-DoCheck-Act type of approach for improvements Communication Policies that follow the local law, regulatory compliance requirements, public and industry association guidelines or internally prepared guidelines should be clearly communicated to employees Training Managers and employees should be trained to comply with Supplier’s and Company’s policies, procedures, and improvement objectives to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 6 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Self-Audit Identified risks stemming from labor, health and safety, environmental and ethics practices require immediate assessment and corrective action implementation. Such assessment could include audits to ensure conformity to legal and regulatory requirements. References 1. JAC Supply Chain Sustainability Guidelines document - Version: 01_20140116 http://gesi.org/article/48 2. OHSAS 18001 GeSI E-TASC Guidelines - Version 1 – 04/2015 Page 7
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