Understanding the relationship between a good working environment and good company performance, Suez Cement group has placed safety and health at work as a key and essential component of the company’s performance.

In an endeavor to improve health and safety at work, as well as ensure the dissemination of a corporate culture of safety across all Suez Cement's activities, Suez Cement group launched a project on occupational safety and health named "Zero Accidents". Launched in 2006, the project integrates safety as a core business strategy for the group. 

The “Zero Accidents” project aims to reduce the number of occupational accidents by developing a substantive corporate safety culture and raising employee awareness and concern for safety conduct. Specifically, the project aims to implement a safer and healthier working environment at all sites and facilities by adopting adequate steps to prevent accidents and injury in addition to developing communication initiatives to promote a preventative  safety and health culture.

In 2006, the “Zero Accident” project contributed to reducing the frequency of workplace accidents by approximately 70% when compared to the previous year. The severity rate of accidents experienced a similar decline. The recently introduced Safety and Health Management System has played a large role in this improvement. In fact, two of our plants, namely Suez Bags and El Minya plants, have successfully achieved an accident-free year.

In 2006, more than 9,000 safety orientation and training hours on the group safety policy and the safety management handbook were provided for all plant managers. First line and safety animators now assume a more effective role in improving working conditions at the plants by having daily safety talks with workers and daily safety inspections. These measures are coupled with corrective action plans and proper follow-up. Additionally, with the aim to prevent accidents and monitor day-to-day safety performance, the project has established a corporate database of accidents, illnesses, injuries, and lost workdays which track, collect and analyze safety performance indicators.

To improve the health policy in 2006, the company has completely refurbished clinics in five plants with renewed buildings, medical furniture and equipment including new ambulances at several plants.