Sustainability

Workplace Safety

The Brazilian aluminum industry is committed to the health and safety of workers and primary and integrated companies adhere to international standards of protection and risk assessment, through SA 8000 (Social Responsibility) and OHSAS 18001 (for occupational health and safety management systems) certification.

When it comes to health and safety in the aluminum industry, a reduction in incident rates in the workplace is the greatest challenge. The positive news is that by implementing best practices at all stages of the production chain, from mining to recycling, the industry has made significant progress.

After six years in a row of falling rates, in 2011 the safety performance in the workplace for our member companies declined and the lost work-day incident rate increased, as per the chart below. However, the Severity Rate reflecting the lost and processed days reached 185, the lowest ever recorded.

ABAL’s Health and Safety Committee is alert to these figures, and one of its prime objectives is to enhance best practices in incident prevention and occupational health.

ABAL is also monitoring and updating its members with the regulatory progress, while acting on behalf of the association in initiatives such as the Special Study Commission on Occupational Safety and Health (ABNT/CEE-109) and the Working Group on Safety and Health in the Workplace (GTSST) from the National Confederation of Industries (CNI).