Seoul, Korea, July 18, 2008
Signers of the World Safety Declaration share the critical factors for keeping employees safe, according to a DuPont-sponsored survey…
Driving a safety culture across organizations, extending it beyond the workplace and keeping it top of mind with a commitment to collaboration and sharing are critical for keeping employees safe, according 
to a DuPont-sponsored survey of signers of the World Safety Declaration (WSD).
The survey results are the basis for the 2008 WSD Report, “Instilling a Safety Culture Across Continents: How Collaboration, Commitment and Accountability Help Organizations Achieve Measurable Results in Workplace Safety,” which was issued by DuPont at the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Seoul, Korea. The WSD was created by DuPont in 2005 to provide companies with a framework to find common ground in identifying and improving workplace safety.
The leading areas of progress reported by WSD signers include:
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Driving safety cultures across companies represents the greatest area of improvement, but continues to be an ongoing challenge as organizations strive to keep safety top of mind;
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Driving line management accountability for safety was next, indicating that companies are effecting a shift in their organizations; and:
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Reducing occupational accidents and injuries remains the bottom line focus of all safety programs.
“We are very pleased with the 2008 report and the survey results, in particular, because they reinforce the growing focus of safety as a cultural practice in companies around the world,” said Mark Vergnano, Group Vice President of DuPont Safety & Protection. “Safety is a practice that knows no boundaries, in language or country. It is inherent to DuPont and to a growing list of companies. We will continue to strive to help others to better protect their employees, their customers and their communities."
In 2005, a cross-industry coalition of companies from around the world publicly pledged to advance workplace and home safety practices globally over a three-year period by signing the first-ever “World Safety Declaration: Global Industry Commitment to Workplace Safety.” The declaration, unveiled at the XVII World Congress of Safety and Health at Work in Orlando, Fla., in Sept. 2005, called for participating companies “to effect real-world change to achieve an attainable goal of increased safety and injury reduction.” One of the declaration’s goals is to recognize that safety enhancements in workplaces and homes are achievable objectives that can be defined, evaluated and measured, despite the differences of geographies and environments around the world. The companies also committed to reporting their progress, successes and challenges at this year’s event in Korea.
To date, 48 organizations from 14 countries have signed the World Safety Declaration, including: Aker Solutions; Ansell Limited; ASIMCO Technologies; BE&K; Borealis; British Petroleum; Calvert; CEMEX; CH2M HILL; China Academy of Safety Science and Technology (CASST); China National Gold Group Corp.; China National Logging Corporation; China Nonferrous Metal Mining Ltd.; China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation; China State Construction Engineering Corporation; Ciba; DuPont; EDP; Endesa; Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp.; Firminech; Fluor; Fortum; Gamesa; General Electric; Hindustan Unilever; Huaibei Coal Mine Group; Intel Corp.; KONE; MOL; National Safety Council; Nestlé, Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; Plastic Omniun; PetroChina Company Ltd.; Portugal Telecom; Protect Plus; Reliance Industries Limited; Rohm & Haas; State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS); Shaw Group; Sonae; South North Power Corporation; SUAL; TATA Chemicals; TATA Steel; Unilever; and Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Company.
For a complete copy of the 2008 World Safety Declaration Report visit: www.worldsafetydeclaration.com
