Policy brief & purpose

Dasteq’s Occupational / Workplace Health and Safety Policy help us preserve the best possible work conditions for Dasteq’s employees. Every employee has the right to feel safe at work. Dasteq commits to follow legal standards and create a hazard-free workplace.

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Scope

This Occupational / Workplace Health and Safety Policy applies to all prospective and current employees of Dasteq as well as volunteers, contractors and consultants.

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Policy elements

There are two aspects to consider when establishing an Occupational / Workplace Health and Safety Program: Preventative Action and Emergency Management.

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Preventative action

Preventative action is any action we take to avoid injuries or illness related to workplace conditions.

We’ll conduct periodical risk assessments and job hazard analysis to discover what is likely to harm employees. We’ll establish preventative measures accordingly.

Potential threats and dangerous situations include but are not limited to:

• Performing tasks on heights, scaffolds, ladders and other unsteady structures

• Chemical substances (toxic, flammable etc.)

• Operating dangerous equipment

• Slippery or uneven surfaces

• Electrical infrastructure

• Noise/temperature

• Quality of air

We’ll take the following preventative measures:

• When employees work in dangerous contexts or locations, we’ll make sure there are safety precautions like safety nets and ropes.

• We’ll provide protective gear like gloves, protective uniforms, goggles etc. Using safety equipment is obligatory.

• Inspectors and quality control employees will inspect equipment and infrastructure regularly.

• We’ll hold employee training sessions in health & safety standards and procedures.

• All highly dangerous job tasks require at least two employees to be present.

• Exposure to chemicals and radiation will not exceed a specific time limit.

• Employees who do repairs or cleaning need to put up caution signs.

• We’ll prohibit smoking indoors.

Also, we’ll enforce a substance abuse policy to protect employees from colleagues’ misconduct.

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Emergency Management

Emergency management refers to Dasteq’s plan to deal with sudden catastrophes like fire, flood, earthquake or explosion. These depend on human error or natural forces.

Dasteq’s emergency management involves the following provisions:

• Functional smoke alarms and sprinklers that are regularly inspected by [maintenance supervisor]

• Technicians (external or internal) available to repair leakages, damages and blackouts quickly

• Fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment that are easily accessible

• An evacuation plan posted on the walls of each floor and online

• Fire escapes and safety exits that are indicated and safe

• Fully stocked first-aid kits at convenient locations

We’ll also schedule fire drills and emergency evacuations periodically. We will monitor the performance of health and safety procedures and will revise them to ensure a higher level of protection.

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Additional measures

Dasteq will also keep abreast of changes and try to promote health & safety actively. We will:

• Update Dasteq’s policy according to changes in occupational health and safety legislation.

• Use incentive actions for health & safety (e.g. presenting safe employee awards.)

• Analyse past incidents to discover what went wrong.

• Establish clear procedures for accident reporting.

• Revise work procedures to make them safer.

Dasteq will also consult experts or insurance representatives to ensure it complies with local and international standards.

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Disciplinary Consequences

Every team leader is responsible for implementing this health and safety policy. Employees should follow health and safety instructions and will be held accountable when they don’t. We’ll take disciplinary action that may extend to termination when employees consistently disregard health and safety rules.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to contribute to a healthy and safe workplace.

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