Health, Safety and Well-being

Context

Good health and safety practice is a responsibility that Richemont shares with all of its employees. For the vast majority of the Group’s offices, distribution centres and shops, the risk of serious injury is limited. We have identified our manufacturing sites as having the greatest range of health and safety issues to address.

Our approach

The Manufacturing Director, a Board Member, oversees health and safety for the Group. He is supported in this task by a Group Health and Safety Committee which meets twice a year to review performance and agree priorities.

Ultimate responsibility for health and safety issues resides with the managing directors of each business and region. The law provides us with the minimum standard to follow and it is the responsibility of each business to set policies and procedures based on guidance from the relevant regulatory body. Where relevant, these policies are supported by codes of conduct and specific training programmes. Each business has individuals responsible for health and safety issues, either as a dedicated role or, for smaller businesses, as part of a wider remit.

The Group holds an annual health and safety forum where all European Health and Safety Managers have an opportunity to share best practice, present progress at their site and consider audit findings.

Health and safety audits

We use an external consultancy to conduct regular audits of our manufacturing sites and service centres. In 2009/10, 24 audits were conducted, assessing compliance with health and safety regulations together with the effectiveness of translating policy into operating procedure and practice. The results are used to drive continuous improvement plans at each location.

Health and safety systems

We have developed systems to comprehensively measure, monitor and report workplace accident data across the entire organisation. Maisons are required to record any workplace accidents via the global HR system and provide an action plan for improvement. Health & Safety data are monitored across the Group but are not publicly disclosed. In addition, the Group has set itself quantitative targets in respect of Health & Safety improvement and monitors performance against those targets.

Looking ahead

We are developing an assessment tool which can be used by boutiques to conduct self-assessments of their health and safety risks. We will continue to assess and improve the quality of our data in this area.