從工業安全健康環保的管理談尊重人權

杜邦公司化學及氟產品事業部亞太區產品安全經理 鄭允豪

摘要:

   自工業革命以降,工業技術的發展可謂一日千里,也大幅提升了人類的生活品質。但相對的,高度的工業發展,也衍生了人類對於工業安全與環境污染的疑慮。工業安全健康與環保的管理,與是否落實及尊重人權有密不可分的關係。因為「人」是工業安全管理中最重要的元素,而「人權」則是每一個個人最基本的需求。本論文乃從企業經營管理的角度,探討如何透過人權的實踐,塑造優質的企業文化與卓越的安全健康與環保績效,以奠定企業永續發展的良好基礎。

本文

  自工業革命以降,工業技術的發展可謂一日千里,也大幅提升了人類的生活品質。但相對的,高度的工業發展,也衍生了人類對於工業安全與環境污染的疑慮。其中,最有名的兩個案例包括1989年發生在前蘇聯(現烏克蘭)的車諾比核電廠的爆炸案,導致數以萬計居民死亡,以及核輻射外洩對歐洲造成的嚴重污染,引發全世界對於核能安全的探討。又如1985年發生在印度波帕的異氰酸甲酯(生產殺蟲劑之原料)外洩事件,造成三千餘人當場死亡,一萬多人失明或受傷,除了生產廠商美國聯碳公司因巨額賠償破產倒閉外,也引發全世界對於工業製程安全管理的檢討。其實,工業安全健康與環保的管理,與是否落實及尊重人權有密不可分的關係。因為「人」是工業安全管理中最重要的元素,而「人權」則是每一個個人最基本的需求。若能創造一個讓每一個個人都能實現其基本人權價值的組織架構及企業文化,則工業安全健康及環保的管理俾能步上正軌。

  在世界經濟局勢的快速變遷中,前瞻性的工業安全健康及環保的管理策略,早已成為企業永續發展的最重要的基礎之一。許多跨國企業,早已透過組織架構的調整以及企業核心價值(如安全、健康、環保、及對人的尊重等)的建立,逐步落實管理階層對安全健康環保及人權的具體承諾,並將優質的安全健康環保及尊重人權的文化,深植在公司所有的員工心中。企業對於安全健康環保及人權的管理策略包括:

管理階層的支持與承諾
安全健康環保及人權及尊重人權與事業經營相結合
使用管理系統
零的目標與期望

茲分述如下:

管理階層的支持與承諾

  企業必須對安全健康環保及人權做出具體的承諾,並強化組織對安全健康環保及及人權工作的支持,讓安全健康環保及人權工作管理人員享有決策權。各級管理階層皆負有推動安全健康環保及人權工作的義務與責任,並訂定具體的目標及執行計劃。而將安全健康環保及人權工作推動的成效,列為最重要的績效指標,並隨時考核。而以人權及環境為本的企業經營核心價值,就是成功與否的關鍵,也是管理階層必須念茲在茲的信念。

安全健康環保及尊重人權與事業經營相結合

  企業必須相信安全健康環保及人權是經營事業的一部分,也是好的生意。企業若能減少意外事件及傷害,則員工怠工、曠職率會降低,工作滿意度及士氣均能提昇。企業也必須尊重員工語言、膚色、種族、信仰、年齡及性別等的差異,對每位員工的工作內容及職位作最適切的安排,讓每一個員工在其工作崗位上都能夠發揮潛能,有最好的發揮,為公司創造最大的利益。簡言之,創造一個優質的安全環保且相互尊重的工作環境,對公司生產力、品質、組織效率、公司形象、及事業競爭力亦大有助益。

使用管理系統

  企業的安全健康環保及人權目標,不應僅止於符合法規要求,更應善盡企業公民的社會責任。以歐美跨國石油及化工企業為例,他們更積極推動「責任照顧制度」(Responsible Care)。責任照顧制度包括社區溝通及企業社會責任(Corporate Social Responsibility)、環境保護(Environmental Stewardship)、製程安全(Process Safety)、運輸(Distribution)、員工健康及安全(Employee Health and Safety)、及產品生命週期安全評估(Product Stewardship)。這些制度其實與實踐對人及環境的尊重有著密不可分的關係。茲分述如下:

● 社區溝通及企業社會責任
  過去,在安全健康環保及人權工作的推動上,一般企業總視「社區溝通」為畏途。但在安全環保及人權意識高漲的現代社會,越來越多的企業致力於推動與社區的互動,並邀請員工、社區代表、股東以及學者專家等利害相關人,一起來督導企業有關企業社會責任的作為。這當中有一個非常重要的成功關鍵,就是企業能否贏得社會大眾的尊重與信任。而社會大眾的尊重與信任與否,就端視企業是否能落實安全健康環保和以人為本的企業文化。有此基礎,方能建構一個與利害關係人良性溝通的平台,並落實工業與社會發展共存共榮的「生命共同體」的共同願景。

● 環境保護(Environmental Stewardship)
  企業在建廠之前,必須進行環境影響評估,並竭盡所能減少對社區環境的衝擊。工廠不管在設計、建造、施工、乃至量產操作,都必須採取最高的安全健康環保標準,並建構以本質安全設計為核心的多重安全健康環保的防護網,以達到零事故的目標。企業需訂定明確的節能減碳目標,並透過各種形式的專案改善,來減少溫室氣體等污染物的排放及能源的消耗。企業對於環境保護的政策,唯有植基於對人及環境的尊重,方能有效的落實。

● 製程安全(Process Safety)
  製程安全管理(PSM, Process Safety Management)系統,是依人員、技術、及設備共可分為十四要項,分別為訓練與績效、承攬商管理、意外事件調查與報告、人員異動管理、緊急應變計畫、稽核、製程危害分析、製程安全資料、操作步驟安全程序、製程變更管理、品質保證、啟用前安全檢查、設備維修、及細部修改管理等。透過領導階層的支持與承諾,以及良好的操作紀律加以落實,以收製程安全之效。在企業經營的工廠,透過這套管理系統的落實,可以建立員工對安全健康的高度共識,並進而激勵基層員工,組織安全活動委員會及員工安全互助活動,自發性的舉辦安全健康活動,透過較軟性的宣導及訴求,改善工作環境及環安績效。管理階層在製程安全管理的推動上,扮演了最為關鍵的角色。唯有其體會到安全健康是每一個員工工作職場的基本人權,並竭盡所能的維護,才能達到風行草偃的效果。

● 運輸安全(Distribution safety)
  企業有責任確保公司的原料、產品、乃至廢棄物在運送至客戶使用、儲存、或處理的整個過程,均能符合法令及企業對安全健康環保及人權的一貫要求。在工廠、倉庫、以及支援單位,必須根據產品的危害特性、運輸路線、以及因洩漏所造成對人員及環境的潛在危害,定期進行危害風險評估。並根據評估的結果,尋求降低風險的解決之道,以防患未然。而針對運輸公司,則必須定期提供相關的安全健康訓練諮詢,以及法令和企業對安全的要求,並定期進行稽核。另外與運輸緊急事故處理之政府單位或相關單位,保持良好的互動聯繫,更是運輸安全健康需強化的重點。而針對客戶,自收貨、卸料、儲存、乃至使用,企業則提供全方位的安全健康諮詢與輔導,減低客戶使用產品時所承擔的風險。企業必須透過運輸安全,落實供應鍊利害關係人的基本人權,並透過風險的評估及控管,減少對環境可能造成的衝擊。

● 員工健康及安全(Employee Health and Safety)
  企業必須堅信,員工是公司最重要的資產,而珍視員工(Valuing People),必須成為公司經營的核心價值之一。沒有健康的員工,也就不會有健康的企業,更遑論企業的永續發展。企業的每個事業單位,必須設有專責人員及委員會,並制定有員工的安全健康計劃,致力於改善員工的工作環境及確保職業健康,並以公開、透明化的態度,提供給所有員工順暢的溝通及諮詢管道。

● 產品生命週期安全評估(Product Stewardship)
  企業的每一樣產品,在設計、研發、生產、銷售、運輸、使用、回收再利用、以至於廢棄的整個生命週期,都必須符合企業與法令安全健康環保及人權的要求。同時,也必須要能夠合理的建立每一樣產品將來對安全健康環保及人權可能造成任何潛在危害的資訊,作為風險管理的重要依據。對企業員工及承包商,應提供足夠的教育訓練,正確的使用及處理,以降低風險。承包商、供應商、及運輸商方面,則必須選擇符合責任照顧原則的廠商,並定期稽核。作為簽訂合約的主要依據。在客戶方面,除了提供其相關安全健康環保及人權資訊外,更確實了解客戶在產品後生命週期是否安全健康的使用。若否,則協助其改善。若屢屢未見改善,則應考慮停止產品至該客戶之銷售。其實,產品生命週期安全評估所必須展現的,正是企業對於其整體價值鍊利害關係人的負責任態度,及對於其環境及人權的尊重。

零的目標與期望

  必須要讓企業內每位員工都知道:「零工安環保及零違反人權事件是唯一目標」,而達成此目標也是每一位員工的責任。而不是安全健康環保及人事行政部門的責任。唯有透過持續改善的努力及持之以恆的教育訓練,才能使每位員工逐漸將「零目標」的理念內化(internalize),而落實於日常的工作及生活當中。一件事件的發生,絕非冰山一角,而是在工作環境中,已經累積了相當多的不安全及不尊重人權的因子。唯有消除每一個負面的因子,零的目標才有可能達成。
如何達成零目標?具體而言,有以下幾點:

● 作業主管的責任
  讓基層工作人員深切體認安全健康環保及尊重人權是其工作的一部分,各級主管則透過定期的現場安全觀察,了解現場的安全及人權氣候指數,並發掘足以提昇員工安全及人權意識的工具。

● 感覺得到的領導(felt leadership)
  所有主管需透過活動的親身參與, 建立員工安全環保及人權的觀念, 並隨時量測、分析及改善及宣導整體績效。讓所有員工感覺得到領導階層對安全健康環保及人權的高度重視。

● 全員參與
  鼓勵員工參與企業相關的活動。如安全健康環保或人權促進活動等,並給予實質的獎勵,使員工得以因本身的參與,提升自己的相關意識,並進而影響他人,促成整個組織的成長。

● 安全環保與人權宣導活動的設計
  安全健康環保及人權促進活動:依工作環境特性設計每月主題、安全健康環保或人權里程碑等。幫助員工設定具體的執行目標。

  安全、健康、環保、及對人的尊重,是一個習慣,一種文化,一種良知良態,一項福利。同時,他們也是強化競爭力的利器,更是企業永續發展的營運基石。適逢四月一日世界公民日前夕,不管是企業或每一個個人,都應自我省思,如何善盡世界公民的責任,為台灣及世界邁向「零工安環保及零違反人權事件」的目標,貢獻一己之力。

Respecting Human Right through Industrial Safety, Health, and Environmental Management

Abstract:

After the industrial revolution, tremendous progress has been made on the industrial technology development. It also significantly promotes the quality of people's life. However, the well developed industries also cause people's concerns on industrial safety and environmental pollutions. Industrial safety, health, and environmental management has very close relationship with respecting human rights. This is because “human being” is the most critical element in the industrial safety management, and “human right” is the fundamental need of each individual. This thesis illustrates how to create an excellent enterprise culture and safety, health, and environmental performance through the executions of human rights, as it will be the foundation of enterprise's sustainable development.

After the industrial revolution, tremendous progress has been made on the industrial technology development. It also significantly promotes the quality of people's life. However, the well developed industries also cause people's concerns on industrial safety and environmental pollutions. For example, there was a nuclear reactor explosion incident happened at Chernobyl Ukraine in 1989 which resulted in more than 10 thousands people deaths and severe radiation contaminations in Europe. This incident has triggered plenty of nuclear safety reviews. Another example was the methyl isocyanate (very toxic chemical and raw material of pesticides) release incident in Bhopal India in 1984, it resulted in over 3 thousands people's deaths and over 10 thousands people lost their sights or seriously injured. The company Union Carbide has went bankrupt due to huge amount of indemnity. The concerns of industrial product safety management have been reviewed globally. In fact, industrial safety, health, and environmental management has very close relationship with respecting human rights. This is because “human being” is the most critical element in the industrial safety management, and human right is the fundamental need of each individual. If we can create an organizational structure and company culture that respects people's human rights, then the industrial safety, health, and environmental management can be on the right track.

Advanced strategies on industrial safety, health, and environmental management have been one of the critical foundations of enterprises' sustainable developments under current speedy economic changes in the world. A lot of multinational companies have committed to safety, health, environmental, and human rights by adjusting their organizational structure and company's core values (like safety, health, environmental, valuing people, etc), they also try to internalize the culture into employee's mindset. The strategies include:

Leadership's support and commitment
Integrations of safety, health, environmental, valuing people, and businesses
Use of management systems
The goal of zero

Leadership support and commitment

The enterprises must make solid commitments on safety, health, environmental and human rights, and involve the management into decision making process. Line management is accountable for developing the specific tasks and execution plan. The performance of implementing safety, health, environmental, and human rights will be one of the most important personal performance metrics and needs to be reviewed periodically. Enterprise 's success will heavily rely on the core values of environmental stewardship and human rights. This is also the belief that must be established within the leadership.

Integration of Safety, health, environmental, respecting human rights and business

Enterprises should believe that safety, health, environmental, and human rights are part of the business, as well as good business. If the enterprises can reduce the occupational incidents and injuries, the employees would not go slow at work, absence rate would be lower, work satisfaction would be higher, and the employee's moral will be promoted. In addition, enterprises must respect the diversity of employee's language, color of skin, race, religion, age, and sex. Employee's scope of work needs to be arranged by considering their fitness to work. With that, every employee can devote themselves and create the maximum benefits to the company. In brief, enterprise's productivity, quality, effectiveness, image, and competitiveness will be much benefited from creating a working environment that respects people, , safety, health, and environmental stewardship.

Use of management system

The goal of enterprise's safety, health, environmental, and human rights should not only focus on regulatory compliance, it should also include the world citizen's corporate social responsibility. For example, within the multinational petrochemical and chemical companies, they adapt the Responsible Care management system. The Responsible Care system includes “Community Awareness and Corporate Social Responsibility”, “Environmental Stewardship”, “Process Safety”, “Distribution Safety”, “Employee Health and Safety”, and “Product Stewardship”. Actually these systems have very close connections with respecting people and the environment.

•  Community Awareness and Corporate Social Responsibility

In the past, enterprises hesitated to communicate with community around safety, health, environmental, and human rights. However, in the current modern times, as people's awareness is promoted, more and more enterprises have dedicated themselves on the interactions with their communities. They invite all the stakeholders including employees, community representatives, shareholders, government, and academia to oversight the executions of enterprise's corporate social responsibility. The most critical success factor for the company to drive corporate social responsibility is the trust from stakeholders. The trust mostly comes from the company's core values and culture on safety, health, environmental, and respecting people. With good culture and core values in place, thus the company can build up a healthy platform of dialogue with all stakeholders to achieve the mutual visions.

•  Environmental Stewardship

The company needs to conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment prior to building a manufacturing plant. They also need to try their best to minimize the environmental impact to the community. The plant should take the highest safety, health, and environmental standards from design, construction, commissioning, and production. Inherently safer processes considerations need to be in place to set multi-layers of safety protections with the goal of zero incidents. The enterprises must set a clear and stretch goal of energy and carbon footprint reductions, and achieve the goals by applying projects of energy and greenhouse gas reductions. The company's environmental policy needs to develop and can only execute well based on the respects of human rights and environment

•  Process safety

Process safety management has three aspects of personnel, technology, and facility. IT can be divided into 14 elements which include personal training and performance, contractor safety, incident reporting and investigation, management of change on personnel, emergency response planning, auditing, process hazard analysis, process technology, safety work practices and operating procedures, management of change on technology, quality assurance, prestart up safety reviews, mechanical integrity, and management of subtle change. In the manufacturing plants, people adapt this management system to achieve the consensus of safety and health promotion. Enterprises also organize some voluntary programs on safety and health by involving the shop floor employees to promote their ownership. Leadership plays a key role on process safety management. The only way to achieve excellent safety and health performance in the working environment is that leadership recognizes that safety and health is the basic and given human rights.

•  Distribution safety

Enterprises have the responsibility to verify that all the company's raw materials, products, wastes, and the whole supply chain process have followed the regulatory requirements on safety, health, environmental, and human rights. At plant sites, warehouses, and supporting units, they must evaluate the potential risks on the product properties, transportation routes, and the consequences once the product leaks. Countermeasures must be developed based on the risk assessment. For transportation companies, periodic training and communications on safety and health must be conducted. Regulatory compliance status must be audited. In addition, emergency response alliance among the government agencies, customers, and distributors must connect well. Enterprises must provide the total safety and health consultation in order to reduce the risk from the customers. Overall, enterprises must respect the human rights and the environment along their value chain by working with the stakeholders on the risk assessment and management.

•  Employee Health and Safety

Enterprises must believe that employees are the most important assets. Valuing people shall become one of the company's core values. No enterprises can have sustainable development without healthy employees. Every business units need to have professionals and committees to drive employee's safety and health programs which improve employee's working environment and mane sure occupational health can be sustained. Communications and consultations must be provided to all employees.

•  Product Stewardship

Enterprises must make sure that all the product life cycle must comply with the company policies and regulatory requirements from the aspects of safety, health, environmental, and respecting people. The product life cycle includes design, research, production, sales, distribution, use, recycle, reuse, and waste. Meanwhile, enterprises shall establish the information of product's potential hazards to safety, health, environment, and human rights and use that as the base while developing the countermeasures for risk management. Sufficient training to employees and contractors must be conducted to ensure they can handle the products safely. Follow the Responsible Care principles to set up the criteria for selecting and certifying contractors, distributors, and suppliers. Audits need to be done periodically and audit results shall be referred as contract selection criteria. For customer side, safety, health, environmental and human right compliance information shall be provided. Customer compliance status needs to be verified to ensure compliance. If not, support the customer to improve. If compliance continues to be an issue from customer side, then stopping sales shall be considered. Overall, what the product stewardship demonstrates is the enterprise's commitment on safety, health, environment, and human rights through the value chain.

The Goal of Zero

Enterprises shall communicate with all employees that the goal is zero for safety, health, environmental, and human rights related incidents. It's every employee's responsibility to achieve that goal, instead of safety, environmental, or human resources managements' responsibility. Employees can only internalize those concepts in their daily work through continuous improvements on training, communications, and executions. There are many root causes behind the incidents while the at-risk behaviors and factors on safety and human rights are accumulated. The goal of zero can only achieve by mitigating all the at-risk behaviors and factors. Overall, there are several key deliverables to achieve the goal of zero:

•  Line management's responsibility

Line management shall communicate with all employees continuously that safety, health, environmental, and respecting people is part of their job. Observations on working environment shall be conducted to realize the safety and human right climate indicators. Managing tools shall be developed to promote the safety and human right awareness.

•  Felt leadership

All line management need to involve through employee's activities and build up employee's concepts on safety, environmental, and human rights. The overall performance needs to be measured, analyzed, improved, and communicated. All employees can sense the strong felt leadership on the values of safety, health, environmental, and human rights.

•  Employee's involvement

Enterprise shall encourage employees to attend the relative activities like safety or human right promotion activities. Incentives shall be provided to motivate participations. Employees will be able to promote their awareness through involvements and then influence others to achieve the growth of whole organization.

•  Design of safety, health, environmental, and human right promotion programs

Enterprises can design the programs by considering the working environment and characteristics. The programs like monthly activities, safety and human right milestones, which can help employees set specific goal for executions.

For Safety, health, environmental, and respecting people, they are the combination of employee or leadership's habit, culture, goodwill, and welfare. They are also the competitive advantage and the foundation of enterprise's sustainable developments. Prior to the 2010 World Citizen