Work-related injuries
GRI 403-9
We track Oerlikon’s rate of recordable work-related injuries, referred to internally as the total accident frequency rate (TAFR). This has been our safety key performance indicator (KPI) since 2017, when it replaced the lost time accident frequency rate. TAFR is based on 200 000 hours worked by employees (including temporary workers but excluding independent contractors), and its reference point is the baseline set in 2016. We find it to be a superior indicator because it encompasses both lost time accidents and medical treatment accidents without lost time and not only those leading to lost time.
Health and safety data excludes small offices. The total FTEs at these small sites account for <1% of total Oerlikon Group’s FTEs worldwide.
With the 2020 Sustainability Report, a TAFR target was set for 2030. In 2021, Oerlikon’s TAFR was 0.72 (excluding acquisitions), which is a reduction of 18% compared to 0.88 in the 2019 baseline year. Compared to the initial baseline set in 2016, there has been an aggregate 45% reduction.
The Group also tracks the LTA severity rate, that is the number of calendar days lost per each LTA per 200 000 hours worked. The severity rate of 15.80 in 2021 represents a 54% increase over the previous year (which was 10.25), due to a few accidents in 2021, where longer recovery periods were needed.
Oerlikon continues to monitor these indicators closely and is always seeking new opportunities to strengthen our performance and improve the health, safety and well-being of every member of our team.
In line with the 2018 GRI 403 on occupational health and safety, the definition of high-consequence work-related injury uses recovery time instead of lost time as the criterion for determining the severity of an injury. Recovery time refers to the time needed for a worker to recover fully to pre-injury health status. We currently do not measure recovery time but intend to implement a process to track recovery time.
