Case study: Ensuring occupational safety and health at Sauer Danfos a.s.

Sauer Danfoss a.s.

Work at a machinery and equipment production plant involves a large number of hazards that can put workers’ health and safety at risk. The primarily established risk assessment system in the company Sauer Danfoss a.s. was not effective enough so the company decided to upgrade it with the main aim to improve working conditions of employees by eliminating unfavourable aspects of working environment. 

The staff in the enterprise developed a new risk assessment procedure which was adjusted to specific needs of the company and a document called “OHS Risk Identification, Assessment and Control” was issued. The safety-technical service (BTS), the occupational health service (PZS) and employees on all levels were (and are) involved in the process of assessing risks and searching for solutions. Effective measures for the elimination of risks were found. For example a press with faulty handling was replaced by a press with two-handed handling, the cleaning and abrasion product technology by “rehashing” with steel taws has been replaced by isothermal cleaning and abrasion, the operator has been replaced by a robot and the operator is not endangered by burns anymore. The level of risks is regularly reviewed.

The effective system of risk management with active employee participation is now in use. Effective measures for the elimination of risks are constantly being adopted and are regularly reviewed. Practice has shown that the costs invested in employee care are recovered in the form of increased performance and job satisfaction, and a reduction in the rate of injury and incapacity of employees.

Furthermore, the worker accident rate has been visibly reduced after implementing the measures. There were 3 serious working injuries and several injuries requiring the medical treatment reported in 2008. The company had still no working injury and just 2 cases of medical treatment in 2009. 

Workers have the possibility through the representatives for safety to express their suggestions and comments, which are re-evaluated by the management and subsequently turned into effective measures to eliminate risks or a better quality of the working environment.