Lisbon, Portugal, October 16th 2008
In the scope of its innovative corporate responsibility strategy
Sonae Sierra receives certification for its Safety & Health management system
- First European company in the sector to be certified by Standard OHSAS 18001
Sonae Sierra has just received certification for its Safety & Health management system in conformity with the OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 standard, thus becoming the first European company in the shopping centre sector to be certified in this area. This certification, issued by TÜV Rheinland, a German multinational leader in the certification area, acknowledges the quality of the Sonae Sierra Safety & Health system, and the good practices implemented by the Company in this regard.
OHSAS 18001 is a standard that validates a Management System (just like ISO 9000 and ISO 14000) oriented towards Safety & Health at the workplace, functioning as a tool that allows companies to manage and control their performance levels in those areas, according to the goals, policies and action plans set by the company itself.
Sonae Sierra has developed a Safety & Health culture throughout the entire Company and in its shopping and leisure centres, implementing measures consistent with its objectives and policy, so as to minimize and control potential risks derived from its activity.
One of the main interventions promoted by Sonae Sierra in this area was the PERSONAE project, which has the ultimate purpose of preventing and anticipating accidents, so as to protect employees and everyone who interacts with the Company. "Zero accidents" is the goal Sonae Sierra set out to achieve, through common values adopted by the entire organization.
Distinguished with the "DuPont Safety Award for Visible Management Commitment", in 2007, and the ECO Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in 2006, PERSONAE represented an investment of six million euros. It includes Sonae Sierra's shopping centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil, and was developed in three different stages which lasted 4 years (from 2004 to 2008). Throughout these three stages, more than 70.000 people were involved, including Sonae Sierra employees, tenants and service providers.
Sonae Sierra is an international shopping centre specialist. With passion, we bring innovation and excitement to the world of shopping and leisure. The company owns 48 shopping centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil with a gross lettable area (GLA) of more than 1.9 million m2. Currently, the company is developing 17 further projects and has 13 new projects in various phases of completion with a gross lettable area (GLA) of 1 million m2. In 2007, its shopping centres welcomed 410 million visits.