The "We all take care" initiative

The “We all take care” initiative provides ongoing confirmation of Freudenberg’s commitment to environmental protection and occupational safety. The initiative was launched at the “Dialog 2002” meeting of Freudenberg top management from all over the world. The goal is to bring the “Responsibility” Guiding Principle to life. Progress has already been made in this respect, as the substantial 24 percent cut in the accident rate for 2003 confirms. During the year under review, the six HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) Groups began their work on the themes of the initiative: safe materials, product safety, environmental protection and facility risks, safety culture, machine safety and health as a managerial task. Each of these Groups will become a competence center for its theme, forming a network throughout the Freudenberg Group and launching projects in the Business Areas. The beginning of 2003 also saw the start of a global communication campaign at all Freudenberg sites publicizing the initiative and initiating projects. Posters, leaflets, articles in all staff and site magazines as well as information on the FIX portal, the Group-wide intranet, introduced associates to the initiative in 19 languages and encouraged them to participate. People at Freudenberg are being motivated to support
“We all take care” and to bring the improvement process forward.

Freudenberg Group sites reported a total of 274 environmental protection and occupational health projects under the “We all take care” initiative during 2003. Each Business Group and all HSE Groups presented an award in their specific field. A jury then selected the four winners of the “Freudenberg We all take care Award” from these projects.

The 1st prize was awarded to Korea Vilene Company in Pyungtaek for the “Daily safety-man” project, where one associate each day is nominated as safety representative. The task is to locate unsafe machines, unsafe working conditions and unsafe behavior and to take appropriate action. The 2nd prize went to Freudenberg Research Services in Weinheim for holistic risk assessment at the workplace. The 3rd prize was conferred on two winners: the Reichelsheim facility of Freudenberg Seals and Vibration Control Technology for developing an adjustable safety bar on mills and to Vibracoustic for its health at work project.