Occupational Environmental Safety and Health
Occupational Environmental Safety and Health
Implementation of Occupational Health and Safety
Management Approach
CT follows the PDCA cycle of the Occupational Safety and Health Management System to gradually implement safety and health management measures. The Company regularly reviews each unit’s performance indicators at the Occupational Safety and Health Committee and the Environmental Health and Safety Management Review meetings. It continuously commits funds and manpower resources to enhance employee safety in the working environment, reduce the incidence of occupational accidents and promote employee health care, while building a safe and sustainable CT.
Environmental health and safety performance indicators are divided into proactive categories (such as safety and health promotion activities and environmental health and safety improvements) and passive categories (such as regulatory sanctions and near-miss events). In addition to complying with occupational safety and health regulations, the Company increased the frequency of general health examinations and physiological tests for employees and requires every on-site colleague to undergo special inspections for noise and dust, in order to enhance operational safety and promote health care.
Occupational Safety and Health Management System
Since 2017, CT has implemented the OHSAS 18001: 2007 Occupational Safety and Health Management System. The system applies to all personnel working within CT’s plant premises, and regulations for contractors’ employees are specified separately in contracts and their attachments. After each unit conducts hazard identification and risk assessment for its operations, improvements are implemented based on risk levels and evaluated for effectiveness using two performance indicators.
To comply with the requirements of the revised ISO 45001: 2018 standard and to pass the transition audit conducted by a third‑party certification body in February 2021, the Company enhanced its occupational health and safety performance and ensured the provision of a safe workplace for employees.
Occupational Safety and Health Committee
The Company, in accordance with the Regulations for Occupational Safety and Health Management, has established the Occupational Safety and Health Committee, consisting of 22 members composed of occupational safety and health personnel, relevant department supervisors and labor representatives. The committee includes 1 chairperson, 1 chief secretary, 12 ex officio members and 8 labor representatives.
The current term’s labor representatives completed voting and announced the results on May 31, 2023. Their term of office runs from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2025, and the employer serves as chairperson overseeing the committee’s affairs.
In accordance with Article 12 of the Regulations for Occupational Safety and Health Management, CT mandates that the committee convene once each quarter to handle matters related to occupational safety and health management, regularly review the occupational safety and health management processes, execute follow up actions based on meeting minutes, and collaboratively integrate occupational safety and health policies into each employee’s job responsibilities.
Contractor Management
In accordance with the “Organizational Charter for Occupational Safety and Health Agreement”, activities and workers related to contractors and cooperating vendors have been included in the risk identification and assessment process. They receive hazard notifications and the necessary education and training from the Company to perform work and prevent incidents. Contractor meetings are held weekly, totaling 47 sessions. If contractors violate regulations upon entering the facility, penalties will be imposed to enforce operational procedures. Subsequent improvements include strengthened awareness campaigns and increased site inspections. Through regular organization meetings, important matters are coordinated and two‑way communication is established.
Responsibility and Grievance Mechanism
During the reporting period, members of the Occupational Safety and Health Committee participated in 0 occupational safety and health proposals and grievances, with non-management workers accounting for 25% of participation and management workers accounting for 75%.
Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Regulations
In 2024, there were 3 major violations of occupational safety and health regulations, with fines totaling NTD 400 thousand. The Company will continue to review each penalty case and propose corrective measures, progressively improve personnel safety awareness, enable timely monitoring and control of machinery and equipment conditions, and further optimize the occupational safety and health management system.
Labor Workplace Environmental Monitoring
In accordance with the “Occupational Safety and Health Act” and the “Implementation Rules for Worker Environment Monitoring”, the “Workplace Environmental Monitoring Implementation Procedures” have been established. CT engages qualified environmental monitoring agencies to conduct regular workplace environmental monitoring and assess whether the measurement results comply with legal requirements. If any abnormalities are identified, engineering improvements and corrective actions are promptly implemented to safeguard employee health. CT has set up mechanisms to monitor all areas and personnel, and executes monitoring according to the plan once every six months for 5 items: dust, noise, organic solvents, carbon dioxide and illuminance.
2024 Workplace Environmental Monitoring Results
Ø Improvement plan: In response to the workplace environmental monitoring results for the second half of the year at the Yunlin plant showing noise levels exceeding the standard in the work area of Building B, protective equipment training and toolbox meeting briefings have been implemented, and noise hazard prevention measures have been posted and labeled in the work areas where noise levels did not meet the standards.
Occupational Health and Safety Education and Training
Enhancing employee attitudes, awareness, and capabilities regarding environmental health and safety, CT’s key environmental health and safety training totaled 285 hours. The Company requires employees to participate in environmental and occupational safety orientations and fire prevention and disaster response drills, with a 100% participation rate among new employees, in order to strengthen safety awareness and fulfill corporate social responsibility.
Upon onboarding, each employee is issued personal protective equipment. The Company provides helmets, goggles, safety shoes and high-visibility vests, and requires every employee to wear protective equipment when entering on-site work areas and, according to different types of work, employees must wear the designated protective equipment.
To ensure that in the event of an accident the injured persons can be identified, their families contacted, and their blood type determined as quickly as possible, the Company affixes each employee’s name, emergency contact information, and blood type to their reflective vest, thereby enabling the crucial window for treatment and securing measures to best protect employees.
Types and Information of Professional Personnel Training Conducted in 2024 | |||||
No | Category | Name of Education and Training | Number of Trainees | Course Hours | Total Training Hours |
1 | Hazardous Machinery and Equipment | Overhead and ground operation (overhead crane) | 1 | 38 | 38 |
6 | 3 | 18 | |||
2 | Operators of specific high‑pressure gas equipment | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
3 | Aerial work vehicle | 2 | 32 | 64 | |
4 | Specialty | Oxygen deficient operations, dust operations, organic solvent operations | 1 | 6 | 6 |
5 | Safety and Health | Class A and B Occupational Safety and Health Management | 1 | 12 | 12 |
6 | Class A Occupational Safety and Health Business Supervisor | 8 | 6 | 48 | |
7 | others | Fire Prevention Management Personnel | 1 | 6 | 6 |
8 | Forklift | 3 | 18 | 54 | |
11 | 3 | 33 | |||
Fire prevention and disaster response drills Held every six months | |
Fire prevention and disaster response drills are held once every six months. In 2024, two were conducted, focusing on knowledge of fire escape equipment, home and vehicle fire safety protection, and related topics. Field exercises enhanced emergency response capabilities to reduce disasters and protect employees’ lives and property, and through simulated emergency escape drills, the Company inspected the firefighting equipment and its operation within the CT plant premises. |
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Plant-wide evacuation drill Regularly held | |
Plant-wide evacuation drills for on-site personnel are conducted annually to address hazardous material leaks. Material leak disaster scenarios are simulated, during which on‑site personnel are evacuated and directed to emergency assembly points. Through these drills, on‑site personnel’s proficiency in emergency response procedures is enhanced, thereby reducing disaster losses, protecting environmental and human safety, and maintaining plant operations. |
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High‑altitude rescue drills Occasionally held | |
In order to ensure that the workplace consistently complies with HSE requirements and provides employees with a safe working environment, a High Altitude Work Standard Guideline has been established, which, in addition to prioritizing personal safety above all else, implements a pre-work assessment plan covering the functionality of rope-related equipment, the strength of fixed anchor points, fall protection measures, rope route planning, required number of personnel, worker physical and mental health status, potential hazard points, and rescue methods in the event of an incident, and produces related instructional videos, such as rescue procedures to be used when danger arises during high altitude work, so that employees become familiar with rescue essentials and can apply their knowledge when necessary. |
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Occupational Injury Statistics
In 2024, no employee fatalities occurred. Among full time and contract employees, there were 37 minor injuries at work, including 3 disabling injuries, which were caused by poor visibility in the work area and failure to wear safety goggles, resulting in foreign objects entering the eyes.
For colleagues in the units where accidents occurred and for on‑site employees, awareness campaigns are strengthened and education and training are provided, near‑miss incident reporting is managed, and autonomous management is improved through 6S, in order to enhance overall occupational safety and health quality.
In addition, through robust systems such as workplace environmental monitoring, special health examinations and management, hazard education and training, and the use and inspection of environmental hygiene protective equipment, the risk of personnel exposure to health hazards has been greatly reduced, minimizing the likelihood of occupational diseases. In the past five years, there have been no cases of occupational diseases among employees.
In recent years, occupational accidents at CT have mostly involved minor injuries, and the main causes of these injuries are a lack of safety awareness and insufficient training. Current improvement measures include implementing comprehensive safety education and training sessions, reviewing similar hazard points, strengthening the promotion of personnel safety awareness, and continuously monitoring safety performance to ensure a reduction in the incidence of occupational accidents.
※ The occupational accidents in the above table exclude traffic accidents occurring during commuting
※ Contract employees are contractors, subcontractors, etc.
Note:
1. Disability injury frequency rate (FR) = number of disabling injuries × 1,000,000 / total working hours
2. Disabling injury severity rate (SR) = total lost days due to disabling injuries × 1,000,000 / total working hours
3. Frequency Severity Indicator (FSI) = √((SR × FR) / 1000)
4. Occupational injury fatality rate = (number of fatalities caused by occupational injuries / total working hours) × 200,000
5. Serious occupational injury rate = (number of serious occupational injuries (excluding fatalities) / total working hours) × 200,000
＊Definition of serious occupational injury: Refers to an injury in which a worker is unable or has difficulty recovering to their pre-injury health status within six months
6. Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) = (number of recordable occupational injuries × 200,000 / total working hours)
7. Near‑miss frequency rate (NMFR) = (number of near‑miss incidents × 200,000 / total working hours)
Prevention of Unlawful Workplace Infringements
CT strictly complies with local government labor laws and international standards, and implements related internal regulations. To prevent employees from suffering physical or mental harm due to unlawful infringements by the employer, supervisors, colleagues, service recipients or other third parties at the workplace while performing their duties, CT, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Article 11 of its Enforcement Rules, has established the “Guidelines for Preventing Unlawful Workplace Infringements during Duty Performance,” and provides grievance channels such as email, suggestion boxes and telephone lines to safeguard employee physical and mental health.
Hazard Identification and Risk Control
In 2024, there were 3 cases of unlawful workplace infringements during duty performance. A task force was established to investigate and resolve them, and an internal review and improvement were carried out. Preventive awareness campaigns and education and training were enhanced to improve employee hazard identification capabilities and reduce potential occupational accident risks.
2024 Prevention of Occupational Unlawful Infringements:
• Current Measures |
(1) Post on the bulletin board information defining our zero‑violence workplace environment, sexual harassment prevention and reporting procedures. (2) At Taoyuan, Yunlin, and Taipei Port plants, suggestion boxes for workplace unlawful infringements have been installed. (3) Continuously promote content related to preventing occupational unlawful violations during Environmental Health and Safety weekly meetings, Occupational Safety and Health Committee meetings, migrant worker meetings and related seminars, education and training sessions, emails and messaging platforms. |
• 2024 Project for Planning and Implementation of Workplace Environmental Health and Safety Facility Improvements: |
According to the statistical results of the four major plans, there was 1 improvement planning proposal and implementation project in total. The workplace unlawful infringement seminar, originally scheduled once, is now schedule twice a year, and the content includes hazard prevention and communication skills. In 2025, team cooperation and communication skills will be incorporated into education and training.
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Control and Prevention of Abnormal Conditions
According to the guidelines of the Abnormal Workload Prevention Plan and the Prevention of Unlawful Workplace Infringement Plan, a questionnaire survey is conducted each year using online and paper formats. The questionnaires include an overload assessment, a burnout inventory, a brief health scale, a risk assessment for unlawful workplace infringement during duty performance, and a violence hazard and risk assessment. High‑risk individuals are identified and interviewed by on‑site physicians to facilitate further assistance and improvement.
The results of the abnormal workload assessment in 2024 revealed 2 high risk individuals and approximately 20 medium risk individuals. Those requiring consultations have already met with on‑site physicians, while the remainder receive health guidance from occupational health service nurses via telephone or printed materials.
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Occupational Disease Prevention
The Company has the responsibility and obligation to prevent diseases arising from various work‑related causes and to implement measures to protect workers against conditions detrimental to health. For CT, health hazards such as high temperatures, noise, and dust are inevitable in the production processes of traditional industries. The Company controls these environmental hazards and monitors personnel health through workplace environmental monitoring and special operations health examinations. In addition, through hazard prevention education and training, the wearing and inspection of protective equipment, and other measures, the risk of personnel exposure to health hazards has been greatly reduced, minimizing the likelihood of occupational diseases.
Employee Health Care and Promotion
To safeguard workers’ occupational health and safety, provide comprehensive health care and assist employees in implementing self‑health management. The Company provides health checkups, health consultations, health promotion and other labor health services. Within plant premises, eye wash stations and first aid kits are installed, and safety equipment such as AEDs and three‑in‑one oxygen cylinders have been added. Emergency responder occupational safety and health training courses are offered to strengthen the internal plant emergency network. Furthermore, health management is conducted through the four major programs, maternity, human factors, abnormal workload, and unlawful workplace violations, as well as work fitness assessments for middle‑aged and older employees. In 2024, the Company increased its investment in occupational health and safety related actions by 16.5% compared to 2023 to actively implement occupational health and safety management.
General Health Checkups
CT provides employees with an annual health checkups service, with all costs borne by the Company. Health management is implemented according to checkup results, and in 2024 the number of employees receiving general health checkups was 334. For employees aged 45 and above who work night shifts, an electrocardiogram examination is additionally provided to offer more comprehensive protection.
Special Operations Inspection
According to the plan, special health examinations are conducted annually for personnel in special operations locations, with examination items including specific noise and dust exposures, among others.
In 2024, the total number of special health checkups conducted for personnel in special operations locations was 402.
The Health Management Section, based on the annual employee health examination results, implements graded health management measures and provides consultations, referrals, and continuous follow‑up services, reminds employees to track and address abnormal findings, and engages various experts to evaluate employee health examination and workplace environmental measurement data in order to identify hazard factors and propose preventive education and training programs.
Health and Safety Education and Training
Each year, 3 AED and CPR training sessions are held, with a total of 130 participants. In addition, refresher training is provided for 4 first responders, exceeding regulatory requirements. To enhance employee emergency response capabilities in the event of an accident and in response to client audit recommendations, over 70% of the Company’s employees have received CPR and AED training, with certificates issued by the Taoyuan City health authority. The course content includes locations of first aid facilities, the contents and use of first aid kits, relevant laws, CPR, AED operation, emergency treatment of common injuries, emergency response and notification procedures, and precautions.
Medical Services
Each month, CT arranges for a specialist in occupational medicine to serve as the on-site company physician at the plant, providing health guidance and consultations. The Company is highly attentive to employees’ physical and mental health, and if employees have any health or physiological concerns (such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, or hyperlipidemia), they may go to the conference room for consultation. In 2024, there were a total of 34 consultations, primarily for hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, as well as overload, liver function, return-to-work assessments, special operations health checkups and other issues.
Health Promotion Plan
Every day, various health topics are promoted through email, posters and messaging apps, such as practical and engaging information on preventing hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, controlling body fat and preventing musculoskeletal aches and pains, as well as health information on preventing infectious diseases, enabling the Company’s employees to better understand self-health management methods, prevent diseases, and curb the spread of epidemics. The promotional materials include versions in multiple languages so that teachers and migrant workers from various countries can fully understand the content. At the same time, related notices are also posted in on site work areas to ensure effective implementation of the promotion.
Results of EAPs Implementation in 2024
In order to ensure that employees receive comprehensive support and development in their personal welfare and professional domains, and as one of the few steel companies to introduce an EAP, the Company’s EAP has been in operation since June 2024. A satisfaction survey conducted within one month collected 56 responses. The program primarily serves all colleagues, adopts a people oriented approach, focuses on overall employee well-being, and aims to improve job satisfaction and productivity while reducing absenteeism or declines in work performance caused by mental health issues, stress or personal difficulties, enabling employees to achieve harmony between work and life and creating a win-win outcome for employees and the Company.
Plan for Organizing Health Seminars in 2024
Each year, thematic health education activities are held occasionally to enhance employee health awareness and guide their health behaviors and provide them with relevant and accurate health knowledge. In 2024, a total of 9 health promotion activities were conducted, with participation totaling 270, representing a substantial increase compared to the previous year.
At the same time, each plant has actively established a healthy working environment, and the Yunlin Plant also received recognition from the county government, earning the honor of “Badge of Accredited Healthy Workplace.” Not only does this highlight the Company’s outstanding performance in corporate social responsibility, it also reflects the high importance the Company places on employee health and well being.
