Vetoquinol Universal Registration Document 2019

2 STATEMENT OF NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Overall health, safety and environmental policy 32   Vetoquinol  Universal Registration Document 2019  Financial report 2.3 Overall health, safety and environmental policy The health, safety and environmental policy is establi- shed by the Group’s QHSE Department (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment), which oversees the imple- mentation of this policy at all Vetoquinol entities and establishments around the world. The Group HSE policy is based on 12 fundamental prin- ciples that are implemented throughout the Group: • An HSE officer is appointed for each entity, who reports locally to management and operationally to the Group HSE manager. The HSE officer manages local risk prevention schemes and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and Group standards. • In addition to the Group HSE policy, each entity is res- ponsible for preparing a local HSE policy focused on its particular conditions and business activities. This must be signed by the management of the entity and pre- sented to all its staff. • An HSE risk assessment process is carried out within each entity, covering road hazards in particu- lar. It touches upon all the activities carried out by the employees as well as those carried out by exter- nal service providers at a Vetoquinol site. The process incorporates risk assessment with regard to malicious acts. • A risk reduction plan is formalized upon completion of the risk assessment process. This plan is monitored and updated on a regular basis. • If a risk cannot be avoided, safeguarding measures at source protecting all employees exposed to the risk should be prioritized with regard to individual protec- tive equipment. • For new projects/products or new activities, the HSE risk assessment is carried out as soon as possible so that suitable measures can be taken. • Levels of exposure to physically harmful substances and chemicals are measured for the staff concerned. The results are taken into account in the periodic medical evaluation. • All members of staff should undergo regular HSE training corresponding to their activities and the risks faced. All new employees receive HSE awareness trai- ning when they join the company. • Each entity collects and analyses information on acci- dents and incidents via a dedicated process. All major accidents and incidents are immediately reported to the Group HSE manager, who coordinates feedback from the other entities. • Safety indicators are monitored by each entity. Envi- ronmental indicators are established for industrial entities: monitoring of waste, effluent discharge, water and energy consumption. • Each entity establishes an on-site HSE audit and observation program. This program covers all the acti- vities in which Vetoquinol employees are involved. • Each entity deploys the necessary resources to manage emergency HSE situations, such as injury or pollution, as well as a customized crisis management procedure.