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To provide a safe working
environment where people are our priority is one of Severn
Trent's core values. It is a responsibility that we take
seriously, both on the day-to-day level, and in our long
term planning. Corporate responsibility at Severn Trent
encompasses more than the traditional areas of health,
safety and training. We believe it includes elements such
as diversity, respect for all and uncompromising business
ethics.
Health and Safety
Severn Trent Services: Safety performance in 2008/09
We have maintained our focus on improving health and safety
in all areas of our business. In 2008/09, we succeeded in reducing
the number of lost time incidents per 100,000 hours worked
by 28% from 0.57 in 2007/08 to 0.41.
Our Severn Trent Plc Code of Conduct defines how we put our corporate
responsibility values and vision into practice. It lays
down nine key principles that guide our daily business
activities. It applies to employees at all levels and in
all parts of the business.
We have developed measures to monitor implementation of the
Code, and we will continue to review the Code in future years
to ensure that it provides the appropriate ethical direction
for our business. Disclosure (whistle-blowing) procedures are
in place in all group companies to deal with allegations of
breaches of the Code, and of behavior such as bullying, harassment
or fraud.
Using recognized standards helps us build strong health and
safety systems within our businesses. Severn Trent Laboratories,
our environmental testing service in the UK, has received recommendation
for registration to Occupational Health and Safety OHSAS 18001:2007
certification. This covers five main operating laboratories
as well as the field-based teams. They will join all our other
UK and Italian businesses already certified to the standard.
Our UK meter installation unit, Integra, achieved a silver
award for Occupational Health and Safety performance from RoSPA.
In the US, our Operating Services Arizona projects have also
received a total of six safety awards from the Arizona Water
Association.
Business Ethics
All of our global sites receive the Severn Trent Plc Code of
Conduct as well as policies relating to whistle-blowing and
anti-fraud. We have instituted a Safecall phone line. In addition,
employee handbooks with all these details have been provided
to sites in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and have been translated
into local languages. We have further plans to introduce these
handbooks into Malaysia, Singapore and Egypt.
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