Lisbon - Portugal, April 27, 2010
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Sonae Sierra reduces staff absence due to work accidents or occupational diseases by 25%
- In 2009 Sonae Sierra delivered 20.300 man hours of Safety and Health training to staff, service suppliers and tenants.
- The number of accidents resulting on construction sites was reduced by 41%
- The frequency rate of accidents requiring medical treatment or more serious per million of visits was reduce in shopping centres by 28%
- In 2009, there were no fatalities due to accidents across Sonae Sierra's portfolio.
On the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work Sonae Sierra informs the 2009 results of their Safety and Health Management System. The Safety and Health Management System allowed the company to reduce by 25% the labour absence, and a reduction in the number of accidents resulting on construction sites by 41% in comparison with the results of 2008.
Sonae Sierra, the International Shopping centre specialist has a Safety and Health Management System (S&HMS), which main goal is to prevent all accidents from occurring in their sites. Sonae Sierra is responsible for the safety of millions of people who work at or visit their sites. In Sonae Sierra, Safety and Health is a fundamental part of the company's strategy.
In 2008 the S&HMS was the first in the shopping centre industry to be certified by the OHSAS 18001 Standard. Fourteen shopping centres and one project under construction, the first to do so in the sector, have already achieved their individual OHSAS 18001 Certification.
Elsa Monteiro, Head of Sustainability at Sonae Sierra states "Social Responsibility starts by showing respect to others and the first step is to protect our closest people from all type of accidents. The effort and results of the company to continue improving the standards of safety and health at work are for the benefit of employees, tenants, suppliers and visitors."
In 2009 Sonae Sierra delivered 20.300 man hours of Safety and Health training to staff, service suppliers and tenants. The continuing training in Safety and Health is a fundamental key in the incidents prevention. According with the company's employee survey, 76% of the staff believes that the company provides a positive working environment; at 31 December 2009 the company employed directly 1147 people.
In 2010 the company objective is to continue with the success obtained in previous years in this matter. The objectives for this year includes reducing the number of accidents with staff absence due to work accidents or occupational diseases, reduce the Lost Workday Case Accidents Frequency Rate (LWCAFR) on construction works by 5%, to achieve zero facilities due to accidents across the Sonae Sierra Portfolio, and achieve OHSAS 18001 certification for a further ten shopping centres.
The Sonae Sierra commitment with tenants and suppliers involves actions in safety and health in order to improve the quality of their services. The results obtained by Sonae Sierra tenant's in the Safety & Health area are collected in the PERSONÆ award. This award is recognition of the endeavours on S&H from the best tenants from all shopping and leisure centres under Sonae Sierra management. The PERSONÆ project concept enhances Sonae Sierra Corporate Responsibility strategy and performance through its focus on social responsibility for sustainable growth. The Personæ Project won the European Risk Management Awards 2009 for Best Risk Training Programme.
About Sonae Sierra
Sonae Sierra, www.sonaesierra.com, is the international shopping centre specialist, with a passion for bringing innovation and excitement to the shopping centre industry. The Company owns 52 Shopping Centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil, with a total Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of more than 2 million m². Sonae Sierra has 2 projects under construction and 9 new projects in different phases of development in Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil. In 2009, its centres welcomed more than 436 million visits.