제  목 : Global standards key to corporate safety
  일  자 : 1995년 09월
  제공처 : Todays

    Safety executives from Fortune 500 companies cite global safety
  standards as integral to their worldwide occupational health and safety
  programs, according to the results of a survey of 100 occupational
  safety executives from multinational companies ranked in the Fortune
  500.

    Respondents also noted that the top two benefits of a corporate safety
  program - a more productive work force and higher quality standards -
  are important in all their locations, even if local standards are not
  as high in some countries as they are in others.

    The study, sponsored by Liberty International, examined the components
  of an organization's global health and safety program ; the influence of
  various factors on that program ; and safety trends and solutions for the
  future. Respondents also provided information on the impact of various
  factors such as local governments, local unions, and foreign regulatory
  enforcement on global corporate safety programs.

    "The findings may surprise many," said Ronald C. Pruett Jr., Liberty
  International Managing Director. "The survey identifies why companies
  continue to develop their global safety programs - increasing
  international competition and trade agreements. As a result of these
  factors, companies are recognizing that their employees and the skills
  they have are their most valued assets. Safety helps protect these
  assets."

    All of the survey respondents are responsible for their organizations'
  occupational health and safety program. The majority of those
  interviewed have more than 20 operations abroad and expect future growth
  outside the United States to continue.

    The key findings include :

    o Sixty - seven percent of the companies have global safety standards
      for occupational health and safety programs.

    o Eighty percent of the companies benchmark their safety operations
      against competitors.

    o Corporate culture is cited by 85% of the study participants as the
      leading influence on companies' worldwide occupational health and
      safety programs.

    o Ergonomic related injuries are the most commonly incurred losses in
      worldwide operations, as reported by about six in ten safety
      executives.
      Many also cite traumatic injury, industrial hygiene or occupational
      exposure, minor personal injury, or fire/explosion losses.

    o Involving all levels of employees in safety practice was cited as a
      major concern by 31% of the safety executives ; ergonomics was cited
      by 25% ; and disaster protection/prevention and government regulation
      compliance were each cited as important issues by 20% of the
      respondents.

    o Seventy percent of respondents cited protection of personnel as the
    most influential factor in the decision to purchase or receive loss
    control and safety engineering services.