Around the world, occupational safety is one of the most important achievements of the modern age. In addition to being a universal right, occupational safety benefits both the company, which can therefore guarantee a more comfortable - and consequently more productive - work environment, and society, which bears fewer social costs for injuries and occupational diseases. Today is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, fundamental values for IBSA. Our Company’s excellent safety indicators are the demonstration and result of our commitment to sound risk management in the workplace. They show that accidents are preventable and avoidable.
Angelo Tassan Zanin, Senior Health, Safety and Environment Manager, handles these aspects, coordinating the IBSA Group’s HSE initiatives from Lugano. “First and foremost, like every pharmaceutical company should, IBSA focuses closely on all aspects connected to the disposal of special waste. By immediately complying with the regulations in force in the regions where our production sites are located, we are always developing waste sorting and recycling systems. In addition, at global level, we carefully manage substances classified as dangerous, ensuring that technical and organisational solutions are always in place to prevent any human contact with these materials. IBSA also prioritises the water cycle. For example, at our facilities in Collina d’Oro (Lugano) we have installed a new water purification system to treat the water used for washing, so that it is pristine when returned to the environment. We are also very attentive to preventing all fire risks. Fire can be an extremely dangerous enemy, especially in production areas where there are easily inflammable materials. This is why all our equipment and facilities are equipped with explosion risk prevention and protection devices that go far beyond the requirements of current standards.”
In fact, we consider mere compliance with regulations the “lowest” safety bar to be met. And beyond an utmost focus on the details, a genuine risk prevention culture is indispensable. It is this culture that “has enabled us to prevent serious accidents. But there is another crucial element on top of all this to ensure the health of all our workers: ongoing training on safety, the general rules of which constitute part of all our operating procedures so they are always visible. It is only by following the rules and devoting our full attention to every aspect of our daily work that we can reduce risk. We must ‘know the danger’ and learn about it when we don’t to prevent accidents.”