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STMicroelectronics Creates Semiconductor Industry Health and Safety Record |
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Geneva, February 11, 2004 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, today announced that all of its relevant manufacturing sites worldwide have achieved certification to the Occupational Health and Safety Management System OHSAS 18001 specification. ST is the first global semiconductor manufacturer in the world to achieve this feat. The importance of providing a safe and healthy working environment has been increasingly recognized in recent years, not only from the point of view of risk reduction and ensuring compliance with changing regulations but also for the contribution it makes to employee motivation and performance. For this reason, there has been a growing tendency for forward-looking organizations to introduce Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) that provide a framework for achieving continuously improving OHS performance. . The Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001) specification gives requirements for implementing an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system through a set of safety and health standards widely adopted by companies worldwide. It aims to control OH&S risks, improve safety performances and, finally, to reduce work-related risks and accidents, protect company assets and, most importantly, provides employees with a safe and healthy work environment. OHSAS 18001 is the most widely adopted international specification for OHS Management Systems. . "Our reasons for wanting to be a world leader in Health and Safety were the same as our reasons for becoming a world leader in environmental responsibility: it is in keeping with our commitment to be a good corporate citizen, it helps to attract the best talent, and it creates added value by reducing costs and increasing productivity rates," said Maurizio Micale, Corporate Safety & Risk Management Director, who headed ST's OHS program. . ST launched its OHSAS program in July 2001 with the aggressive target of gaining OHSAS 18001 certification for all of its manufacturing sites by the end of 2003. Although all of ST's manufacturing sites already had strong OHS systems in place, the sites are spread over four continents - Africa (Morocco), Asia (China, Malaysia, Singapore), Europe (France, Italy, Malta) and America (USA) - and each site is subject to a different set of local regulations. The main task was therefore to harmonize the existing systems, consolidate data, results and targets, and integrate the culture of continuous improvement. Two sites (Agrate, Italy, and Kirkop, Malta) were selected as pilot sites to test the newly developed OHS Management System. . "Although we are very proud to be the first semiconductor manufacturer in the world to achieve this feat, the work does not end here," said Micale. In fact, OHSAS 18001 was designed to be compatible with the two key international standards for environmental management (ISO 14001) and quality management (ISO 9001) and ST now intends to align its OHS, environment and quality management systems, as well as extending its OHSAS 18001 certifications to some selected major non-manufacturing sites. For the next program phase, ST intends to export and deploy the same methods that helped to reinforce its corporate safety culture to improve other cultures such as ethics, respect and productivity. Safety and risk management are operational disciplines that are essential components of all ST business activities. . The Company is also hoping that its success will stimulate other companies to follow its example. "Our success in developing a world-class OHS management system and deploying it worldwide in just 18 months shows what can be achieved by companies that are committed to making health and safety part of their TQM culture and we encourage our suppliers, customers and competitors to follow our journey to safety excellence. For the sake of future generations, it is essential that we eliminate poor practices that could damage the society, environment and economy of our world," said Micale. . About STMicroelectronics. STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. Notes for Editors. (1) ST's sites were audited by Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI). . (2) ST's site in Shenzhen, one of the largest assembly and test manufacturing plants in China, was the first ST site in the Asia Pacific region to be certified to OHSAS 18001. It was one of the first Chinese industrial sites and the first semiconductor manufacturing operation in China to obtain this certification. . (3) http://www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com provides detailed information about OHSAS 18001. |
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