Disclosure 103-1: Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary
The 20’060 Sika employees and the leased labor worldwide stand at the center of Sika’s success. Providing a healthy and safe work environment is a key commitment of Sika. As a specialty chemicals company with relatively labor-intensive production, small operations and large material throughputs, the production processes of Sika involve health and safety risks for its employees.

With 10.4 accidents (previous year: 8.7) per 1,000 employees, the number of occupational accidents (lost working days >1) showed an increase of 19.5% versus 2017. In 2018, injuries caused absences of an average of around 18.4 days (previous year: 22). Due to this unexpected result, Sika will process safety programs in 2019 covering all regions and countries. Here the objective is to place greater emphasis on employee participation and to avoid small accidents due to a lack of attention.

 Occupational health and safety is also considered as a material issue with Sika’s suppliers, as their employees are in many cases exposed to occupational health and safety risks.


Disclosure 103-2: The management approach and its components
Sika’s management approach for occupational health and safety intends to avoid negative impacts through the following processes:

COMMITMENT
Sika strives to protect fellow colleagues with the aim that they leave the workplace in the same condition as they had started work.

GOALS AND TARGETS
Sika’s 5-year target plan for 2014-2018 includes the following target for occupational health & safety:

  •  5% less accidents per year (Baseline 2013)

RESPONSIBILITIES
Labor practices and safe work conditions of Sika’s operations are the responsibility of regional management reporting to the CEO. At local level, the general manager, the operations manager, and the line organization are responsible for helping to reach Sika’s targets regarding occupational health and safety, and for setting and achieving local targets accordingly.

POLICIES

  • Guideline: Sika Site Safety System, in Corporate Management System
  • Supplier Code of Conduct

SPECIFIC ACTIONS

  • OHSAS Certification: 41 legal entities, including their headquarters, are certified according to OHSAS 18001. In some countries several locations of the same legal entity are certified according to OHSAS 18001, in total 76 locations.
  • Sika has devised the Sika Site Safety Program to reduce accident rates and promote prevention. This is a program for local companies, defining the preventive elements a Sika company must have in place. The local companies are in the process of implementing this program, and the audit scheme will follow up on the degree of implementation in the coming years.
  • Supplier audits: Occupational health and safety is covered through Sika’s supplier Code of Conduct. Suppliers are audited regarding compliance with the Supplier Code of Conduct, which includes Environment, Health and Safety requirements, and corrective actions if necessary.

Disclosure 103-3: Evaluation of the management approach
Sika evaluates its management approach through:

  • Monitoring: Sika monitors its performance regarding occupational health and safety on a regular basis. Internal reports are sent quarterly to the Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability department where results are followed up and management approaches adapted accordingly.

Furthermore, Sika monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of its management approach according to target achievement.