Workplace

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES AND CODE OF ETHICS

The Group’s Ethics Policy, which has been issued to all employees, sets out a number of fundamental principles, which all Group companies are required to follow. The policy can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.sigplc.com. 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 2009. 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.

During 2009 the management system was brought into line with the revised standard OHSAS 18001:2007 for all of the Group’s UK Mainland operations as part of the certification renewal process.
The Group has received no prosecutions relating to health and safety matters during 2009.

In the UK, HSE Advisers 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 system’s 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 all locations were internally audited by the HSE Advisers in 2009 using a quantitative benchmarking system, with the average audit scores across all divisions improving against prior year. 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.

Following the benchmarking of the Mainland European and Ireland businesses in 2008 against the Group’s established management system, objectives for 2009 were implemented across the business to achieve a pan-European policy and arrangements.

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 an 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 increased slightly in 2009 however the overall Group performance showed a slight improvement. There was a reduction in the number of major injuries both for the UK and the Group. The number of injury accidents reportable to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations (“RIDDOR”) was 16.8 per 1,000 employees in 2009, compared with 15.0 per 1,000 employees in 2008.

Accident and Incidents - UK

Accident and Incidents - Group

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