ISO 45001 certification for Health & Safety management
ISO 45001, is the internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety management. The safety of our employees is deeply embedded in Lindström’s We Care culture; the well-being of our employees and our work community is a matter of honour for us. We believe in treating all people equally and guaranteeing them safe working conditions. We work to ensure this every day. Therefore, in 2022, we took steps to enhance our Health & Safety management. Thanks to this, we have now certified the Lindström Management System with ISO 45001.
We have a long history of developing occupational safety practices throughout the company. Our harmonised Management System guides this work. In addition to this, there are laws, regulations, and other guidelines in place for a safe workplace. So far, we have been relatively successful; in 2022, we avoided all fatal accidents at work. Our injury rate in the same year was 6.7, and the sick leave was at 5% (4.3). This indicates a slight but concerning increase. We aim for zero accidents, and we are taking active steps to promote a Zero Accidents mindset in our everyday work and actions. At the same time we aim for zero occupational diseases.
ISO 45001 – because we are serious about improving employee safety
Lindström operates in 22 countries in Europe and in Asia. Even though the countries we operate in are quite different from one another, our operating methods are largely uniform amongst all of them. We follow the same guidelines globally, using our Management System as a guide. This ensures that our customers receive the same high-quality experience from one location to another. Harmonised processes also ensure that our employees can work in the most efficient and safest way. In occupational safety and its development, we utilise continuous improvement models, as well as clear and comprehensive guidelines.
ISO 45001, the International Standard for occupational health and safety, is a framework to help increase safety, reduce workplace risks even further and enhance the work-life balance of our employees. It will be our tool to adopt good practices for health and safety in all our locations. It helps us reduce risks and accidents as well as create a healthy workplace throughout the countries where Lindström operates.
Encouraging every Lindströmer to adopt a safety-first mindset
We set annual focus areas for our health & safety work based on accident reports, safety observations and audit findings and by following up the working environment. In 2022, we focused on preventing slips, trips and falls, promoting traffic and commuting safety and ensuring the well-being of white-collar workers in the hybrid working mode. These topics continue to be in focus in 2023 and 2024 as well. Our work covers all Lindström employees and outsourced partners in our maintenance or delivery service. When necessary, we cooperate with insurance companies and other external partners to build a safe and healthy working environment.
Lindström invites employees and other stakeholders to participate in continuously improving of health and safety at work. In 2022, we introduced a mobile tool for reporting safety observations. In the tool it is possible to report observations to the management system via line managers. This way, everyone working at Lindström premises can take action, and ensure a safe workplace for all. But the work to switch the mindset from reactive, accident-driven safety thinking to preventing and ensuring safe practices from the start continues. The safety observations and active reporting and collection of them will be of help.
“I am calling out to every Lindströmer to take action and help make safety a priority for the whole company. Please make safety observations, at least one, this year! Only by voicing your improvement ideas, we can make Lindström an even safer workplace for all!”
“I am calling out to every Lindströmer to take action and help make safety a priority for the whole company. Please make safety observations, at least one, this year! Only by voicing your improvement ideas, we can make Lindström an even safer workplace for all!”
Harri Puputti, Director of Quality & Compliance, who leads Lindström’s Health & Safety work
In 2022, the number of reported safety observations was 3,893 (3,152). For 2023, the aim is bold, to encourage Lindströmers each to report a safety observation. We hope that each Lindströmer adopts the “safety first” attitude, preventing and minimising all accidents before they happen. My hope is that this will become a reality sooner rather than later. Every cut, bruise or accident is one too many. We Care for our people in every way.
A safety observation is an event that does not cause personal injury or property damage but involves a risk of an accident at work. E.g., small wounds and bruises are a safety observation if they do not require intervention by a healthcare professional or sick leave.
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