Occupational health and safety is ”everybody’s business” at HUBER+SUHNER

“It is a priority to make sure OH&S is aligned as a part of our culture and who we are as a business,” says Tobiasz Zedzianowski, who steers the company’s global OH&S management from the Tczew, Poland, site. “Our employees are our most important asset, so we ensure a working environment that avoids accidents and provides for mental health and well-being, as well.” 

HUBER+SUHNER, with nearly 4,000 employees at 40 locations worldwide, disclosed in its Annual Report 2024 a significantly improved OS&H key performance indicator (KPI): The company’s lost-time injury rate (LTIR) decreased from 3.3 in 2023 to 2.6 in 2024, with 19 lost-time injuries. Notably, six production sites reported zero lost-time injuries. HUBER+SUHNER’s Health and Safety Policy describes the company’s OH&S commitment – the responibility for the topic lies with local process managers supported by employees from various functions. 

Regular, open, country-level communication between employees and supervisors is crucial for achieving global OH&S goals. Local process managers contribute to a global Health and Safety Process Board through quarterly meetings to discuss OH&S topics and share best practices. 

To ensure continuous improvement, Tobiasz explains, the organisation has a global OH&S plan supported by locally set performance targets and actions which are tracked and regularly reported. This approach dovetails with the company’s values: Trust, Care, Passion, Transparency, and Accountability.

In 2012, HUBER+SUHNER China was the first to achieve international ISO 45001 certification for the OH&S management systems, proving a commitment to managing and continuously improving OH&S performance. 

Carrie Yang, Production, Process and Quality Manager (PQM) at HUBER+SUHNER China, says: 

“The certification gives customers confidence in our management of people's health and safety and demonstrates that we have a systematic approach to OH&S. From our 400 current employees’ point of view, it’s not just a certificate. It’s a structured way of managing OH&S, making it a routine task for everyone, every department and every site, which leads to continuous improvements. OH&S has become our culture.”

Besides routine OH&S work, June is China’s traditional “Safety Month” when employees engage in activities like knowledge sharing, safety inspection with role swapping, and an idea competition with prizes.

With 13 years of OS&H operation experience, the Chinese organisation has been a valued source of insight for other sites that pursue their own ISO 45001 certifications. 

“The ISO 45001 certificate will give our brand visibility in various segments, and shows that we as a company are focused on OH&S,” says Rashmi Singh, Head of Human Resources with HUBER+SUHNER India, which has around 500 employees.

OH&S is an omnipresent topic in India, which is already in compliance and – led by a local OH&S committee and team – conducting many related activities, including quarterly safety weeks and daily yoga practice, as well as access to medical personnel and various workshops on mental well-being. 

“Our employees are proud and take a lot of initiative and ownership,” Rashmi added. “Our shop floors are buzzing with ideas about how we can enhance OH&S.”

HUBER+SUHNER Poland is also currently in the process to receive ISO 45001 certification for the Tczew site in fall 2025, according to Hanna Misiorny-Gadomska, Process and Quality Manager at the Tczew site. 

“The biggest challenge was ensuring that we meet all legal requirements of not only Poland but also the European Union and the ISO,” she explains. 

HUBER+SUHNER Poland regularly organises OH&S awareness-raising activities such as fire and emergency drills in cooperation wiht the City Fire Brigade, OH&S inspections, first-aid training, and financially supports sport cards, healthy canteen food and workplace ergonomics. 

Passion for OH&S is also noticeable at other locations. In Malaysia, where around half of the organisation's employees are working in production, health and safety is “everybody’s business.”

“We want all employees to return home in the same condition as they came to work," says Sarita Beram Shah Human Resources for HUBER+SUHNER Malaysia and Singapore. 

Next to regular OH&S drills, controls and safety walks, employees are encouraged to use their mobile phones to report safety hazards by scanning an easily accessible QR code. Other activities include SenamRobik-exercises (Aerobic), cancer prevention, and regular “Breakfast and Learn” sessions. 

Urs Neuweiler, Project Manager Facility Management at HUBER+SUHNER Switzerland, explained that OH&S management is carried out through an internal organisation with employees responsible for safety topics on one side and health topics on the other. Through the collaboration with the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva)  which focuses on prevention, insurance and rehabilitation in the area of workplace safety, the country has a unique set-up.

“Our OH&S  organisation was initiated nine years ago with Suva. As a result, work accidents decreased sharply, positively impacting our global OH&S performance, as close to one-third of HUBER+SUHNER’s workforce is in Switzerland," explains Urs.

Besides managing OH&S, the Swiss organisation focuses on topics like winter sports and other outdoor activities' safety, as well as mental health through webinars.

At HUBER+SUHNER United Kingdom (UK) in Bicester, Jonathan Hutson takes equal pride in his site’s OS&H achievements. Johnathan, who wears three hats as Production, Health and Safety, and Environmental Manager, echoes Sarita’s view of OH&S.

“Everybody talks about legislation being the driver for OH&S activity, but companies should want to look after their employees and this is part of our values,” he says. 

Johnathan – who, along with the local Warehouse Manager is certified by the UK’s National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) – actively seeks OH&S feedback through daily interaction with the site’s staff.

“Our employees are the eyes and ears of OH&S,” he describes. “In my 25 years here, the increase in employee engagement is the biggest change in OH&S. This level of engagement, our transparency, and the very, very small number of hours we lose to workplace accidents are what make me most proud.”