Despite a significant decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities in workplaces across the European Union over the last five decades, thousands of European men and women continue to be injured or killed in the workplace every year.

 

“While the importance of safety in the workplace is widely understood across business communities, there appear to be gaps in the way workplace safety is implemented,” noted Dr. Christa Sedlatschek, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), “The direct and indirect costs of accidents and fatalities at work are very substantial, both to society and employers. Only the joint efforts of leadership, management and workers participation can create a solid and sustainable basis to secure implementation of workplace safety”.

 

In order to understand why incidents persist, DuPont Sustainable Solutions surveyed senior leaders and managers of 300 leading companies across Europe.  According to the results, the problem lies not in the lack of attention to safety, nor even a lack of will to improve safety, but rather gaps in the implementation of safety management.

 

“With our clients, we have seen that the importance of safety is well understood, and there is a strong desire to improve” said Koen Van Neyghem, Managing Director of Dupont Sustainable Solutions in EMEA.  “However, while the basic elements may be in place, without continued vigilance and visible management commitment, safety performance can stagnate.”

 

For this reason, and on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, DuPont is calling for a renewed commitment to ensuring safety at work.  “Safety is not a cost, but rather an investment, as improved safety certainly leads to improved business performance, as we have seen at DuPont” continued Koen Van Neyghem.  “Ultimately, all employees have the right to a safe and healthy workplace.”

 

DuPont is an active advocate for improved safety at work, having partnered with organizations such as EU-OSHA to increase awareness of the business value of safety, as well as specific tools companies can use to augment their performance.  Further, the company organizes the DuPont Safety and Sustainability Awards, which recognize companies for excellence in safety and sustainability performance.  Calls for applications for these awards will open in late spring.

 

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DuPont Sustainable Solutions is one of 13 DuPont businesses. Bringing customers the benefits of an integrated global services and technology delivery enterprise, it applies DuPont’s real-world experience, history of innovation, problem-solving success, and strong brands to help organizations transform their workplaces and work cultures to create safer, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable workplaces. For more information, visit our website at: www.sustainablesolutions.dupont.co.uk

 

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For more information about DuPont, visit www.dupont.com

 

For further information, please contact:
John Michael Kern
DuPont International Operations Sarl
2, chemin du Pavillon
1218 – Le Grand Saconnex
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 717 5293
Email: john.m.kern@che.dupont.com

 

For media enquiries, please contact:
Chiara Cosenza
DuPont International Operations Sarl
2, chemin du Pavillon
1218 – Le Grand Saconnex
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 717 5270
Email: Chiara.Cosenza@che.dupont.com