• Safety

Safety

VPK PACKAGING GROUP NV makes huge efforts to create and maintain a safe working environment for its employees.

Measuring is knowing. In order to compare the different departments and/or production sites within VPK PACKAGING GROUP NV with each other, the number of accidents was divided by the number of hours worked, to give what is known as the frequency figure. Falling frequency figures were recorded during the period 2002 - 2007. From 2007 the requency figure started to rise again. This increase is in sharp contrast with the effort
made and the resources invested. But a causal analysis of the accidents made clear that numbers do not tell the whole story and that it is extremely difficult to keep recording low figures year after year.

Nevertheless the management of VPK PACKAGING GROUP NV remains convinced that the existing safety policy should be pursued and that the increase in the frequency figure is only of a temporary nature.

In order to ensure that all Belgian and foreign sites of VPK PACKAGING GROUP NV operate a safety policy that is both consistent and of a high standard, someone with wide experience in the paper and cardboard industry was appointed in 2008 to the role of "Group Safety Manager”. This will ensure the effective dissemination of expertise and learning points throughout the various production sites within VPK PACKAGING GROUP NV.
Specifically in respect of Belgium, changes were implemented in the final quarter of 2009 to the structure of the internal prevention service. The internal prevention adviser (appointed for the production sites at Dendermonde, Erembodegem and Meer) determines the safety policy to be followed, together with the Safety Steering Group, and ensures the execution of group-level tasks.
Furthermore, local prevention staff are appointed as a point of contact within each department and who are responsible for the translation of the clearly defined safety policy into concrete actions.
The Belgian corrugated board division implemented OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) in 2009.
Tidiness and cleanliness, food safety, quality and productivity were significantly improved while safety at work undoubtedly also benefited. In 2010 the principles of BBS (Behaviour Based Safety) will be linked to the already existing OEE programme.

OUDEGEM PAPIER NV is placing its emphasis in respect of safety in 2010 on analysing tasks and installations and taking initiatives in respect of safety training and communication.
Apart from these themes, the safe conversion of the press section of paper machine 6 (PM6) at Dendermonde in the second half of 2010 will pose a significant challenge.