The Freudenberg Group

In 2006, Freudenberg Group investment in technical occupational safety rose to 31.3 million euros, more than double the prior-year figure. The reason for this increase was a special program to improve machine safety which was completed in 2006. Under the program, the machines at over 150 production sites and several service sites worldwide were inspected by trained experts, improvement potential identified and the appropriate measures initiated. As part of the process, Freudenberg drew up global standards for machine safety. The objective of the program was to improve occupational safety further and minimize the technical causes of serious accidents.

Environmental protection costs fell slightly, but, at 8.7 million euros, still ran at a high level.

As a consequence of the "We all take care" environmental protection and occupational safety initiative and other activities at all levels in the Freudenberg Group, the number of accidents per 1,000 employees resulting in more than three days' absence (accident rate) fell for the fifth successive year; the accident rate now runs at 4.3 (2005: 5.3). The total number of notifiable accidents dropped from 181 to 156. There was also a decline in time lost due to accidents, which decreased by 16.3 percent to 37,628 hours. It is gratifying to note that the number of serious accidents also fell from 18 to 12.

The introduction of the OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management system continued to make progress. The occupational safety management systems at 124 of the 174 Freudenberg Group sites have now been certified to OHSAS 18001.

By the end of 2006, the environmental management systems at 134 of the 174 Freudenberg Group sites had been certified to ISO 14001.

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