Safe and Healthy Work Environment Story - Social
At PGS, we prioritize safety without compromise. We are committed to achieving zero accidents in the workplace and have set ambitious targets to reach and maintain this goal. We foster a strong health and safety culture within our teams, recognizing that each colleague plays a critical role in the security of our daily operations. To uphold the highest standards, we strive to obtain ISO certifications whenever feasible.
In the video below, our QHSE Manager, Philippe Chevallier, shares some more insights into our health and safety strategy.
Occupational Health and Safety Policies, Rules and Management Documents
PGS strictly adheres to its Charter on Health and Safety at Work, which sets out nine principles to proactively ensure the health and safety of all employees and subcontractors. This charter underscores our commitment to zero accidents and shapes our safety culture. Our Quality, Safety, and Environment (QSE) Policy complements this by defining clear objectives for quality, safety, and environmental stewardship. Together, these documents form the backbone of our rigorous health and safety standards across all operations.
Golden Safety Rules
Building on these core policies, each member of our group receives essential safety information and training, regardless of their location. The ‘Golden Rules’ establish the framework for behavior within the organization, guiding all employees’ actions. These rules are explained during ‘toolbox meetings’, covering 12 critical risk situations that enable our colleagues to handle them effectively:
- Risk situations
- Traffic & driving of vehicles
- Gestures, postures & tools
- Individual and collective protective equipment (IPE & CPE)
- Work permit
- Lifting operations
- Power systems
- Work at heights
- Change management
- Multiple operations & coactivities
- Chemical products and substances
- Fire incidents
Occupational Health & Safety Management ISO Certification
To uphold the highest standards, we are pursuing progressive ISO 45001 certification on Occupational Health and Safety. As of November 2023, our largest production facilities in Belgium – PGS Rodanar Pallets, PGS De Backer Pallets and PGS Maton – have achieved this certification. Meanwhile, the ISO methodology is being applied across all locations.
All certificates are available on our downloads page.
Risk Management
In our organization, each role and responsibility is clearly defined to reinforce everyone’s health and safety. We monitor our processes and facilities by proactively identifying and managing risks.
When a risk situation arises in any of our sites, the Quality, Safety and Environment (QSE) team issues a safety newsflash explaining the situation. This ensures that every manager is informed and can take the necessary preventive measures. Exchanging and sharing best practices across our sites ensures optimal operational safety and reinforces continuous improvement.
Safety culture at PGS
Beyond establishing management systems, cultivating a robust health and safety culture within our teams is crucial. By adhering strictly to all rules and taking no risks, our employees collectively work towards preventing accidents. Should an incident occur, we encourage all employees to report it immediately, helping us reinforce our safety standards.
Offer eco-responsible products and services
We are dedicated to providing eco-responsible products and services. Through product reuse practices like PGS Reverse, we offer a circular service for our wooden pallets and strive to extend it to all pallets we deliver. Furthermore, we collaborate closely with customers to convert existing products into eco-designed alternatives and actively propose sustainable solutions to new customers.
Dedicated Community Investment
We believe in social engagement and making a positive impact in the communities where we operate. Whereas we have always invested and engaged in our local communities, we wanted to keep track of our positive contributions in a more structural and efficient way. In line with this, we have established the PGS Community Investment Program. This program offers all of our employees the opportunity to support social projects and organizations.
Business Ethics
Business ethics is an essential area of focus for our organization. Compliance with these standards is not a matter of choice but a fundamental necessity. Our approach is straightforward and committed, ensuring that we operate within the bounds of these important regulatory guidelines.
Contact
Should you require further information or have any inquiries pertaining to our sustainability initiatives, we invite you to reach out to us at CSR@pgsgroup.com.