The chemical industry is widely believed to cause particularly negative effects in the case of accidents or irregularities in processes. On the other hand, oil industry products play a vital role in modern life. This is why confidence in safety is of particular importance for this industry. The issues of occupational health and safety are of particular significance for PKN ORLEN, and they are a part of an extensive programme for ensuring the safety of our stakeholders.
Strategic objectives were determined in the Occupational Health and Safety Policy. They include:
- Constant improvement of the levels of occupational health and safety in the Company, in accordance with current legislation and standards;
- Constant improvement of risk recognition methods and prevention of accidents at work, occupational diseases and non-casualty incidents;
- Implementing ergonomic solutions to reduce the arduousness of work;
- Raising employee qualifications and promoting their involvement in improving working conditions;
- Informing personnel and public opinion of Company policy in terms of occupational safety and health protection, and of the results of the policy;
- Constant improvement of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System and integration of the System with the Quality and Environment Management System in order to create a single effective Management System.
We reported a total of 26 accidents at work at PKN ORLEN in 2008. No serious, mass or fatal accidents were reported. Sick leave following accidents at work amounted to 952 days, which corresponds to a 36.6 serious accident rate (number of days of inability to work per accident). The frequency rate was 5.5 (number of accidents per 1,000 employees) and the TRR rate (number of accidents per 1 million man-hours) – 3.19. In 2007, we reported 26 accidents at work, including one serious accident. The respective rates were: serious accident – 51.5; frequency – 5.4; TRR – 3.17.
The TRR rate is calculated using the following formula:
being the product of the number of accidents multiplied by a million divided by the number of man-hours worked at the Company in 2008, was and amounts to 3.19.
In 2008, as in previous years, most accidents involved employees tripping or slipping because of not being sufficiently careful, attentive and focussed. There were also several road accidents most of which involved employees from organisational units outside Płock.
Accident rate in PKN ORLEN in 2007–2008
| |
No. of accidents |
|
Ratio |
| 2007 |
4 834 |
26 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 340 |
5,4 |
51,5 |
3,17 |
| 2008 |
4 744 |
26 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
952 |
5,5 |
36,6 |
3,19 |
* Sick absence following accidents at work
Most of the reported injuries were sprains – 27% and wounds – 23%. Other injuries included fractures, bruises etc. Most accidents took place in the course of walking or climbing up or down (58% of all accidents at work). A total of 15 such accidents were reported, the most typical direct cause of which were: slipping, tripping and falling. Most casualties were employees with 21 to 25 years seniority (6 casualties were reported in this seniority group, which represents 23% of the total number of accidents at work). Similar results were reported in the following age groups: 26–30 and over 30 years (5+5). As in previous years, many of the accidents were caused by improper behaviour (58% of all recorded causes of accidents at work). The structure of indirect causes of accidents is comparable to the structure of indirect causes in the country.
Factors analysed and number of analyses performed at work posts in 2008
No repeat events typical of the chemical industry were reported. A drop in the serious accident ratio was reported, despite the number of accidents being the same as in 2007. 16 no-casualty incidents were reported on the premises of the Production Plant in Plock. Analyses were performed in order to avoid similar incidents in the future.
PKN ORLEN pays a lot of attention to ensuring safe and hygienic work conditions, both for the Company’s own employees and external contractors. There is an OHS service at the Company, whose purpose is to supervise employee compliance with current regulations and to provide support in this respect. In the industry which we represent, loss of control over technological processes could cause huge damage to employees, the natural environment and property. The objective of PKN ORLEN is to become a leader in the oil sector with respect to its Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Anxious to ensure safety, we pay particular attention to the identification and minimisation of risks at their source, and to occupational risk assessment. We register potential hazards and analyse non-casualty incidents, which for us is a precious source of information for extending preventive measures. Any employee notifying us of an incident may propose solutions to remove or reduce the related risk.
Occupational health and safety issues are provided for in formal agreements concluded with Trade Unions. In order to ensure social control over the creation and observance of the conditions of safety and health protection, PKN ORLEN has an Occupational Health and Safety Commission. It was appointed following consultations with the Company’s Trade Unions. 50% of the Commission members are employee representatives. The Company has a social labour inspection supervised by the Trade Unions.
We consider the constant education and raising of awareness among our employees and external companies operating at our premises to be a priority. For this purpose, we have prepared special multimedia materials and training films. All our initiatives are aimed at further improvement of occupational safety and human health and protection of life.
One credible proof of the effectiveness of the above-mentioned measures is the fact that none of PKN ORLEN’s employees suffered a serious, mass or fatal accident in 2008.
Providing employees with safe working conditions and constant improvement of the prevention system is one of PKN ORLEN’s priorities for the years to come.
Good practice and procedures, staff participation in the development of new solutions as well as OHS education and ongoing awareness raising among employees enabled the Company to eliminate fatal accidents from among its employees. Unfortunately, there were 2 fatal accidents involving contractors of renovation works at one of the Company’s units in 2008. In order to avoid similar accidents in the future, we added an “Occupational safety” clause to renovation and investment work contracts in 2009, which introduces comprehensive and innovative solutions, and supports the monitoring of accidents at PKN ORLEN sites involving external companies.
Figures on occupational diseases and accidents at PKN ORLEN in 2008
| |
PKN ORLEN |
| Category |
Total |
Production Plant in Płocku |
Fuel Terminals and units outside Płock |
| Accidents at work |
26 |
16 |
10 |
| Sick absence (calendar days starting from the date of sick leave) |
952 |
611 |
341 |
| Frequency ratio (no. of accidents per 1,000 employees) |
5,5 |
4,4 |
9,2 |
| Serious accident ratio (days of sick absence per accident) |
36,6 |
38,2 |
43,1 |
| Occupational diseases |
0 |
| TRR ratio |
3,19 |
The TRR ratio shows a correlation with the frequency ratio. Due to more precise data, this ratio better presents the accident status of the Company, which is comparable to other world scale refinery and petrochemical corporations.
Our target is zero occupational accidents
