Occupational Health & Safety
Providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees is a primary concern for Novo Nordisk. Traditionally, the company’s health and safety practices have been based on local standards related to local legislation. But the increasing globalisation of the company, particularly in Product Supply (PS), requires a more global approach.
Global occupational health & safety management
In 2006, a global Occupational Health & Safety Management System based on OHSAS 18001 came into force as a Novo Nordisk quality assurance document. The new document spells out the roles and responsibilities for health and safety work, including (but not limited to) safety training of personnel, efforts to identify and document risk factors, and actions to minimise these risks.
The system is mandatory for the entire Danish organisation as well as for the Novo Nordisk production facilities in France, the US, Brazil, China and Japan. At present all other affiliates are not obliged to follow the standards, but the system is designed to be implemented in affiliates at a later date, if this is agreed.
In Product Supply the system has been integrated with the ISO 14001 environmental management system to pursue synergies. Resources have been allocated locally to support the implementation and further development of the system. A comprehensive training programme for OH&S reps/coordinators and selected managers has been rolled out to enable an OH&S certificate in 2008. The training is coordinated by the External Environment department in PS and involves both local and HQ OH&S professionals. The programme includes an introduction to the system, tasks and responsibilities, risk assessment and how to use an IT tool to manage and follow up on action plans. A similar programme is planned in other parts of the organisation. It is expected that the general OH&S performance as well as data quality will be improved as a result of these activities.
During the second half of 2007, OH&S internal audits were initiated to measure compliance with the system. The outcome so far is positive and has improved the focus on OH&S management.
Novo Nordisk's approach
Elements of a healthy workplace include the physical attributes of the workplace as well as the measures taken to prevent occupational injuries. Psychological factors such as job stress, job security and employability, management practices, non-discrimination, empowerment and the development opportunities also contribute to a healthy working environment.
Novo Nordisk's Health and Safety Policy states that the company will 'set high standards and continuously improve health and safety performance as a natural part of Novo Nordisk’s social responsibility'. Novo Nordisk is determined to bring the work environment of the entire global organisation into compliance with the targets of this policy. Today, some discrepancies exist, partly due to local legislation and to varying degrees of compliance with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
Work on OH&S globalising began in 2002, when for the first time Novo Nordisk collected health and safety indicators for all company sites in Denmark and all production units outside Denmark. The purpose was to establish the current status of company health and safety.
In 2003 this survey was expanded to include the entire global organisation. At the same time, specific health and safety targets were set in order to reduce the number of accidents.
The 2003 survey showed that no units had violated local OH&S regulations and that all units were working systematically to improve the work environment. An important step further is taken by the implementation of the Occupational Health & Safety Management System in some parts of the organisation. Steps have been taken to further develop the access for the global organisation to tools and guidance material on OH&S issues to support good occupational health and safety practices throughout Novo Nordisk.
Novo Nordisk has decided to strengthen the global governance structure for a number of administrative processes. It will also affect OH&S and strengthen the global impact. From 2008 it will be included in the committee today dealing with External Environment and Bioethics.
Focus on prevention
The Novo Nordisk Way of Management and the company policies apply throughout the organisation and serve as the framework for the management tools that drive and monitor performance. Performance data serve as a base for sharing better practices and for developing a common approach to health and safety work.
The target for the global organisation is a continuous decrease in the number of occupational injuries.
Occupational Health and Safety
Much effort is focused on prevention and proactiveness. Preventive and corrective actions taken in connection with occupational accidents and near misses must be reported, dealt with and documented in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
In recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses, Novo Nordisk follows the ILO Code of Practice as well as local legislation. Novo Nordisk has adopted the ILO Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981. To encourage continued focus and motivate additional efforts on occupational health and safety, a Novo Nordisk Occupational Health & Safety Award is given each year. The award for 2006 was given to Site Montes Claros in Brazil for an outstanding performance. One of the achievements was a construction project with a very low rate of injuries.
In Denmark, the Working Environmental Council is the health and safety authority for Novo Nordisk. This council plans, manages and coordinates occupational health and safety work in accordance with agreements between management and the company's professional organisations.
This page has been reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assurance of Novo Nordisk’s non-financial reporting. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the conclusions and the nature of assurance offered.
