Workplace

Business Principles and Code of Ethics

The Group issued its Ethics Policy to all employees in March 2008, which sets out a number of fundamental principles, which all Group companies are required to follow. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policies include the Company’s prohibition on the giving or receiving of bribes or other payments. The key business principles contained in the Ethics Policy are set out below:

• SIG’s policy is to operate within applicable laws;
• discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated;
• SIG aims to be a responsible partner within its local communities;
• the legal and moral rights of others will be taken into account in all SIG’s business transactions;
• we will maintain a safe and healthy environment for people to work in;
• we will be proactive in managing our responsibilities to the environment;
• we will not knowingly make misrepresentations;
• as a matter of policy, we do not make political donations;
• no bribes can be given or received;
• conflicts of interest must be avoided and in all cases must be reported; and
• employees are encouraged to report any suspected wrongdoings.

Health and Safety

The Group has in place in the UK an Integrated Management System for Health, Safety and Environment; certified to ISO 14001 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001(Health and Safety).

The Group is committed to high standards of health and safety for all of its employees and the Health, Safety and Environmental Policy was reviewed in 2008. The Policy is displayed throughout the Group’s workplaces and is available on the Company’s website. Whilst Mr. C.J. Davies, the Chief Executive, is the Board Director responsible for the health and safety performance of the Group, the SIG systems ensure that responsibility exists throughout all of the SIG businesses. Health and safety objectives and targets have been established within relevant functions and levels within the organisation.

One of the objectives for 2008 was to bring the management system into line with the revised standard OHSAS 18001:2007 and this was achieved in the LS Group during the year, with the remaining businesses having been recommended for the upgrade in April 2009 when the current certification is renewed.

The Group has received no prosecutions relating to health and safety matters during 2008.

In the UK, Health, Safety and Environmental Advisors who are either Company or regionally based support the increased focus on health and safety education and awareness at workplace level. As part of the management systems audit process each location is annually benchmarked, any corrective actions are identified and a plan put in place to address deficiencies raised. In the UK over 443 locations were internally audited by the Health, Safety and Environmental Advisors in 2008 using a quantitative benchmarking system with the average audit scores across all Divisions improving. Within the Group the continuing improvement of health and safety performance is a key priority. A Health and Safety Training Manager is in place to ensure that all UK subsidiary company Directors and Managers receive appropriate training in health and safety in order to meet their responsibilities.

Another objective for 2008 was to benchmark the Mainland European businesses against the Group’s established management system. This was carried out at 23 trading sites across eight countries. Further development of a pan-European policy and arrangements will take place in 2009.

Forklift and commercial driver training form an important part of SIG’s Workplace Safety Policy, which impacts on reduced insurance costs, enhanced pedestrian and site safety and improved working environment. Daily inspections complement periodic training to keep the vehicle and driver at peak performance.

The Group’s accident performance is monitored by the Board on a monthly basis. The overall rate of workplace accidents within the UK operations continues to fall. The number of injury accidents reportable to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations (“RIDDOR”) was 15 per 1,000 employees in 2008, compared with 15.5 per 1,000 employees in 2007. The figures for the Group’s Mainland European businesses are included for the first time.
 

Accidents and Incidents
 

Employees

The Group’s policy is to provide equal opportunities to all existing and prospective employees. SIG recognises that its reputation is dependent on the quality, effectiveness and skill base of its employees and is committed to the fair and equitable treatment of all its employees and specifically to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality or ethnic origin.

For further information see the SIG Ethics, Whistleblowing, Anti-Corruption and Health, Safety & Environmental Policies