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closeHealth, Safety and Environment
Good Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) standards and practice go hand in hand with excellent business results. High standards in HSE are essential to ensure that Smith & Nephew employees, the public, and any other people affected by our work, are adequately protected. Moreover, good HSE practices contribute to business performance by protecting and developing human and physical resources and by reducing costs.
Vision
Our vision is to create and sustain a level of HSE performance which is consistent with our brand values and standing as a leading medical device company. Through the continuous improvement of HSE management systems, and the tools and techniques we use, we will manage our HSE risks to the lowest levels reasonably practicable.
Aim
It is our aim to carry out our business in a way which is sustainable and socially responsible with regard to the environment, the health and safety of our employees, others who may be affected by our operations and the communities in which we operate.
Commitment
With this in mind, Smith & Nephew will:
- Give due regard to the effects of its operations on the environment and community so that its business is sustainable
- Provide and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for employees, contractors and visitors
- Conduct each Smith & Nephew Business to achieve the HSE standards required by this Policy
- Seek to improve its HSE performance through continuous evaluation and development of measures to control risk, conserve resources and minimise waste
- Recognise, promote and reinforce the responsibility everyone has to work safely and follow procedures.
Operating Principles
To meet this commitment:
- Each Global Business Unit (GBU) and Operating Company (which means our subsidiary operating companies in both our Direct and Indirect markets) is responsible for its own HSE performance.
- Each GBU and Operating Company should:
- Identify responsibility for compliance with HSE standards at each level throughout the organisation
- Allocate appropriate resources and establish and support HSE standards
- Provide for the participation of employees in securing good HSE performance.
- Each GBU and Operating Company will prepare a quarterly report on its HSE performance and progress so that Smith & Nephew can review the effectiveness of control measures.
- We will seek to eliminate or reduce risks at the design stage of processes.
- We will develop and implement programmes which identify and minimise risks to the environment, the health and safety of our employees, and others who may be affected by our operations and our business.
- We will provide employees with the equipment, information, instruction, training and supervision needed to minimise risks to themselves and others.
- We will develop appropriate contingency plans to minimise the risk to the environment, employees, the public and our Business in the event of a major incident.