In recent years Alesco has undertaken a comprehensive safety improvement program across the group including a program of cultural change around Alesco’s approach to safety. During this time the Company has embarked on a "zero harm" strategy for improving occupational health and safety performance with a clear focus on systems, leadership and people.



Our safety achievements include:

• The development of a set of overarching safety management standards for application across the group. These Standards are intended to set a common benchmark and provide a framework against which all Alesco businesses can develop their occupational, health and safety management systems and uphold these safety values.
  
• Ongoing review of the group’s OHS performance through external auditing of sites.
  
• The formation of the Alesco Safety Network comprising OHS representatives from each of Alesco divisions. This group has worked to enhance each of the divisions’ abilities to respond to the outcomes from the safety audits and to leverage our resources across the group to achieve our safety objectives.
  
• The launch of our annual Safety Day in February 2007. Safety Day was identified as a medium to launch the reinvigorated safety focus across the group and designed to engage Alesco employees and communicate the Zero Harm target. More than 1,000 safety-related activities have taken place across the group on Safety Day. During our third Alesco Safety Day in February 2009 we focused specifically on Risk Assessments across the organisation – an area which was identified through our safety audit process.
  
• The formation of the Safety Health and Environment Committee of the Alesco Board to further enhance a systematic approach to safety across the Alesco group.
  
• Implementation of a comprehensive risk management program across the group including OHS and Risk Management training for all managers and supervisors.

Gauging our performance through external safety audits

Alesco conducts external safety audits on approximately one-third of its sites to gauge our performance against our newly developed overarching group safety standards. We still have a considerable amount of work to do, but, given the various divisions have only been in our ownership for an average of 5.7 years, we believe that we are on the right track to improve our safety performance and to make our workplaces and our work practices safer.

 

 

Our businesses are measuring lead indicators, including hazards identified, risk assessments undertaken and inductions and training programs undertaken by employees and contractors. We recognise that by focusing on lead indicators we can develop a safety system that is effective in preventing harm from occurring in the first place (rather than measuring harm that has occurred through lagging indicators and then focusing on it).

 

Our reduced workers' compensation premiums indicate that our injury management and back-to-work programs are working well.