Summary
Management actively addresses the possible effects of the Group’s activities on employee health and safety and on the environment. The obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees is paramount. The Group’s policy is to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, and to seek ways of reducing any adverse impact upon its surroundings through waste reduction and recycling schemes and programmes to improve energy efficiency.
Communication
Health, Safety and Environmental performance is reported to shareholders in the annual report, to the Board regularly throughout the year and to staff through internal communication channels, such as induction, all-Company briefings, and through noticeboards.
Health, Safety & Environment Committee
The Committee is responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group’s policy on health, safety and environmental issues. The Chief Executive is the Board member with responsibility for HSE matters.
The Biocompatibles Health, Safety & Environment Committee meets monthly in order to review performance, improve systems and set policy with a vision of providing a safe working environment for employees and visitors; operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and in compliance with health & safety and environmental regulations; seeking ways of reducing any adverse impact upon the environment; and minimising accidents through audit, education, awareness training and effective management.
Health & Safety Performance
Detailed procedure training in risk assessment and handling of cytotoxic drugs has been provided to staff as a result of the increased handling of cytotoxic compounds in the research, development and manufacturing of our Drug-Eluting Bead products. Biocompatibles, CellMed and BrachySciences ensure the correct personal protective equipment and procedures are in place for working with hazardous compounds and, in the case of BrachySciences, working with radioactive materials as well as an effective exposure monitoring programme.
At Biocompatibles, an annual Health and Safety audit of the UK site, including office, technology and store areas was completed. Regular blood screening and health monitoring continues for all scientific staff who work with cytotoxic materials. Safety equipment is made available to staff who work from home.
A proactive approach to Health and Safety in the workplace continues to show a low accident and incident rate in 2009. There were no days lost due to accidents at the Biocompatibles facility in the last year. Accidents were minor with no apparent trend. There were no notifications under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).
There were no reportable accidents at CellMed or BrachySciences.
Environmental Performance
Biocompatibles, CellMed and BrachySciences maintained their records of compliance with environmental regulation.
Biocompatibles recognises its responsibility to conduct operations, provide services and manufacture products in a manner that is responsible to the earth’s environment and protective of its natural resources and to this end has established its Environmental Policy.
Staff on all sites are encouraged to be aware of the need to conserve energy and are actively encouraged to recommend alternative methods to achieve such savings.
| Farnham - unaudited |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Energy Usage
Total MW.h |
1,327 |
1,388 |
1,423 |
1,345 |
1,044 |
Carbon Emissions
CO2 equivalent in tonnes |
438 |
445 |
441 |
424 |
351 |
|
CellMed AG - unaudited |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Energy Usage
Total MW.h |
250 |
313 |
287 |
323 |
372 |
Carbon Emissions
CO2 equivalent in tonnes |
108 |
125 |
114 |
129 |
150 |
|
Brachysciences - unaudited |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Energy Usage
Total MW.h |
|
|
|
205 |
208 |
Carbon Emissions
CO2 equivalent in tonnes |
|
|
|
81 |
84 |
|
Total for the Group |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Energy Usage
Total MW.h |
1577 |
1701 |
1710 |
1873 |
1624 |
| Carbon Emissions |
|
|
|
|
|
| CO2 equivalent in tonnes |
546 |
570 |
555 |
634 |
585 |
Sari Evetts
05.05.2010