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HOP (human and organizational performance) methodology supports ICL’s 5 Safety Principles and calls for early detection of hazards and prevention of incidents. The principles include:
The HOP methodology focuses on the human element of safety. It starts with the assumption that human error is inevitable, and that error is a symptom of problems within organizational systems. HOP’s approach aims to develop organizational transparency and dialogue, as well as education and creation of defense mechanisms, to assure that employees return home safely.
Ensuring that ICL’s operations, products and distribution systems are safe and secure for employees, contractors as well as guests, distributors, suppliers and the communities in which our facilities are located, is part of company’s Environment, Safety, Health and Security Policy.
ICL has implemented ESG-based incentives. It has set specific EHS KPIs. Senior management, as well as the overall workforce, are evaluated for their performance in terms of these KPIs. Moreover, ICL’s Board of Directors has appointed the Safety, Environment, Climate, Diversity, Inclusion and Public Affairs Committee to assists it with fulfilling responsibilities relating to EHS.
ICL’s senior management is undertaking EHS training aimed at building a better understanding of industrial safety. Plant managers are responsible for implementing the HOP methodology and continuously engaging in activities and routines in order to facilitate EHS KPIs.
Several ICL sites issue awards to direct and contractor employees for promoting a safety culture.
Safety and health issues are also included in most ICL labor agreements. For example, the following health and safety topics are covered by the ICL’s labor agreements in Israel:
ICL’s Risk Management Principle focuses on the Company’s processes including environment, safety and more topics at all its sites. To accomplish this, ICL continues to develop and implement its policies and standards guided by the CCPS framework which includes the EU Seveso Directive, OSHA PSM Regulation and the UK HSE control of major accidents. Each ICL site conducts assessments according to these regulations.
Among other items, risk surveys include a focus on operational processes, assets, activities and occupational hazards — with the purpose of preventing employees from exposure to hazardous materials and process risks.
ICL’s emergency and crisis management planning aims to reduce, control or mitigate the effects of emergencies such as natural disasters, spills of hazardous materials and other.
As part of the organizational competence principle, ICL has developed trained, skilled and well-equipped emergency groups to ensure an appropriate response to industrial emergencies and natural disasters. The emergency groups, as well as other relevant employees, perform emergency drills with various scenarios in accordance with the annual plan.
ICL has implemented a dedicated software to support these processes. Employees report real-time data which allows an appropriate response to emergency and crisis events.
Organizational competence is defined as how well individuals are trained and competent to do the tasks that are assigned to them.
An EHS skills and knowledge matrix is being developed to promote organizational competence. It defines the expertise needed at all levels of the organization regarding EHS. The plan is to support the Risk Management Principle while building expertise in job safety analyses and process hazard analyses, as well as implement ICL’s global EHS procedures and standards. All employees are required to be trained in all relevant safety processes and procedures related to their specific roles.
ICL manages its occupational health and industrial hygiene practices to recognize, evaluate, and minimize employee exposure to occupational health hazards. As a chemical industry company, ICL must manage and reduce the risk of potential hazardous exposure to materials, processes, production and mining.
Read MoreICL’s vision is to establish itself as a leader in promoting safety practices. To this end, ICL acts to ensure that its contractors are involved in proactive safety management and that they possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their work safely. ICL has been performing contractor safety evaluations to identify weaknesses and determine the most effective safety enhancement efforts. Contractors are evaluated and ranked on specific safety categories including:
Following the evaluation, contractors who excel receive a recognition certificate. Moreover, where gaps have been found, ICL works with contractors to improve performance.
ICL conducts comprehensive and repeated safety training and certification control systems for all employees, service providers, contract workers and others entering and working at ICL sites.
ICL aims to implement a growth mindset to learn from failures and successes across the organization. Analyses of accidents and near misses are conducted at all ICL sites. EHS committees and forum meetings include safety case studies, including reviewing conclusions, and preventive and corrective actions taken.
This systematic knowledge sharing system helps implement best practices and create a safer working environment.
Each year ICL organizes a global ESG Week that focuses on the environment, safety and health, community and volunteering, quality assurance, sustainability, legal and compliance. The purpose of the event is to promote engagement and knowledge sharing process in the company. As part of the EHS workshops, during ESG week, employees engaged in activities designed to promote safety in production processes. These included site-specific scenario training, safety drills and learning from EHS incidents. Additional activities included: safety on the road and at home, health and well-being lectures and more.
EHS innovation is part of ICL’s Industry 4.0. ICL is incorporating innovative technologies to increase the safety of its employees and assets. Digitization is occurring in multiple dimensions, preventing, mapping, and reporting near-misses and accidents.
Technology is also driving better data management and enabling real-time data feedback. New technology will help ICL be more resilient, decrease human errors and prevent crises.
All EHS risk and compliance processes are supported by an EMS system (enterprise smart management). This system allows employees to send messages regarding issues and hazards that arise of which they become aware, and in return to receive updates on actions taken to resolve the issues or remove the hazards. Removing hazards before accidents occur reduces the risk of injury. The integrated EMS system helps managers and employees monitor and analyze performance in operations.
Plant managers are responsible for fulfilling and implementing the program and continuously engaging in activities and routines.
For more information on ICL’s EHS management see ICL’s 2021 Annual Report (pp.92-94).
