Holcim provides healthy and safe workplaces by striving for zero harm to our employees, contractors and visitors.

Towards Zero Harm
The belief that even one on-site injury is too many is behind the company’s “Zero Harm” goal.
First launched company wide in 2004, this safety initiative aims to achieve zero harm to employees, contractors, customers and visitors on its sites by 2009.
Towards Zero Harm is led by the Managing Director and has the full support of the Board.  It aim is to change perceptions and behaviours.
At the start of this initiative the Holcim Safety Council was formed. This group of people, which includes the entire executive management team, provides the strategy and direction for health and safety improvements. The group has adopted ten principles to achieve Zero Harm.

Along with management commitment the involvement of all employees, contractors and visitors is also a crucial element in achieving our goal.
Another vital component of Towards Zero Harm is safety tours. This involves all levels of management visiting and observing the workforce to reinforce good practices and safe behaviours. Safe behaviours are endorsed, and coaching is given when unsafe behaviours are observed.
Priority improvement areas (eg. confined spaces, lockout procedures, contractor safety) have been identified and are being worked on by subcommittees that are made up of employees across the organisation.
As implementation of improvement initiatives is completed across Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd these initiatives are becoming integrated into the way Holcim business is conducted and new priority areas are being identified and worked on as necessary and in line with a continuous improvement process.
In 2005 alone, the Company achieved a 21.5% reduction in the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (number of lost time injuries for every million hours worked) compared to 2004 figures.

ACC Partnership Programme
In 2000, ACC accepted Holcim New Zealand into its new partnership programme after conducting an audit of our health and safety management processes.
Holcim is audited each year at sites chosen by the ACC to ensure health and safety systems are maintained to manage health and safety, and to provide injury management and rehabilitation services for employees.
The audits also determine the level at which Holcim is managing this role within a three tier system.  Site audits carried out in 2006 demonstrated that Holcim was providing these services at the tertiary level, the highest level achievable in the programme.

Workplace Rehabilitation
Through our agency, WellNZ, we monitor the recovery of our employees after an accident, to assist them back into the workforce as soon as they are able.. As part of this programme we focus on ways that managers can help achieve an early return to work.

Driver Training
Holcim drivers take part in the Masterdrive Programme to help minimise the risk of traffic accidents.