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The safety of everyone involved in our operations is our number one priority. We believe all accidents and injuries are preventable, and we are driving a culture of zero fatalities across the Group.
Our Group Health and Safety Policy sets out clear standards on risk assessment, incident reporting and management of key issues ranging from driving safely to working at height. We have robust management systems in place to ensure compliance in all our local markets, and managers across the Group receive health and safety training appropriate to their role.
Network deployment remains our highest risk activity. The majority of this is taking place in emerging markets, where we face significant cultural and practical challenges in health and safety management. Much of this work is also outsourced, making management of contractors a priority.
See our latest Sustainability Report for more on our health and safety performance.
Loss of life related to our operations is unacceptable. Our Fatality Prevention Plans in high-risk markets are designed to tackle the root causes of major incidents through six key initiatives:
Our Group Health, Safety and Wellbeing team, which reports to the Group Human Resources Director, oversees health and safety management across Vodafone. The team works closely with key Group functions and local market representatives, who share best practice through a Health, Safety and Wellbeing network. (For more on wellbeing, see People.)
Local markets report health and safety incidents through our global online reporting system. All major or high potential incidents must be reported within 48 hours to the Head of Group Health, Safety and Wellbeing. A full investigation is undertaken into the causes and key findings are shared across the Group to prevent a similar incident happening elsewhere. Local market CEOs are expected to be personally involved in overseeing investigations and ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
In addition to the labour standards outlined in our Code of Ethical Purchasing for all suppliers, specific health and safety requirements are included in requests for quotation and contracts for high-risk activities. These include a requirement for suppliers to demand the same standards from their subcontractors. We monitor health and safety standards of contractors through our supply chain management programme as well as specialist ISRS audits of key network suppliers.
Dedicated health and safety specialists within our procurement team work closely with key suppliers to help them improve safety management in their own workforce and among sub-contractors. We also hold workshops for key network suppliers to promote collaboration and raise standards across the industry.
Road traffic accidents involving employees, contractors or members of the public account for a high proportion of major incidents recorded in emerging markets. These usually occur on public roads as a result of poor road conditions, which we have little control over. However, we can help to reduce the severity of accidents by reinforcing strict rules on speeding and wearing seat belts, for example.
Three of our Absolute Rules relate to road safety, and in India, where motorcycle accidents are a particular issue, we have a seventh rule on motorcyclists and pillion passengers requiring both to wear a helmet. Vodafone employees travelling in private hire vehicles in India are also asked to complete a safe driving checklist which drivers must submit before they are paid. In Turkey, vehicle tracking systems help us detect speeding violations and discipline employees accordingly.
See our data file for information on performance.
Find out more about how we manage sustainability and view comprehensive performance data.
Download our 2010/11 sustainability report [PDF] and view previous versions.
