Occupational health and safety

Management approach

Occupational health and safety is a high priority at Geberit. The company aims for an accident-free work environment and has established high safety standards to achieve this.

Impacts, risks and opportunities

Occupational accidents impair both the professional career and private lives of those affected, and can have a negative impact on production processes and the productivity of the company. In addition, absenteeism leads to considerable costs and can have a negative impact on the company’s reputation. High safety standards, in turn, improve efficiency and the corporate culture.

Although the risk of accidents at the workplace is low in sanitary production, some activities entail an increased risk of accidents, such as lifting heavy loads or handling hazardous substances or hot surfaces. In particular, the production of ceramics carries a potential risk of work-related illnesses such as silicosis (dust disease). A standard threshold for dust emissions has been specified across the Group, which is lower than the respective legally prescribed levels at various sites. Dust emissions are systematically monitored. The results serve as the basis for local corrective measures. The topic is also systematically addressed as part of the Geberit Safety System and certification in accordance with ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety).

Furthermore, the Group participates in the NEPSI programme (The European Network on Silica) as a member of FECS, a suborganisation of Cerame-Unie (European Ceramic Industry Association). This includes monitoring exposure to quartz dust and the implementation of best practices. The company works with the relevant authorities, professional associations and trade unions in each country to address issues such as protective equipment, work inspections, and education and further training.

Management system for occupational health and safety

Responsibility for occupational health and safety lies with the Sustainability department, which reports directly to the CEO. The implementation of the measures and the definition of further measures at the local level are the responsibility of the individual companies.

Geberit has defined clear targets for occupational health and safety. By the end of 2025, the number and severity of accidents are to be halved compared to 2015. The AFR (Accident Frequency Rate) is to be reduced to a rate of 5.5 occupational accidents, with absences of one working day or more per million working hours. The ASR (Accident Severity Rate) is to be reduced to below 90 days lost per million working hours. These key figures are regularly reviewed and reported to the Group Executive Board. They are part of the annual appraisal of plant managers.

All production plants and the logistics centre in Pfullendorf (DE) are certified in accordance with the occupational health and safety standard ISO 45001. Safety specialists are available in all plants. In addition, health managers have been appointed in Rapperswil-Jona (CH) and Pfullendorf (DE). A Group-wide Geberit Safety Team continuously develops occupational health and safety and promotes the sharing of best practices. New Group-wide safety standards and a concept for cross-site audits were introduced in 2023. Four audits were carried out in the reporting year.

The Geberit Safety System – which is valid in all production plants, logistics sites as well as in the management company incorporating all Group functions at headquarters in Rapperswil-Jona (CH) – defines processes for promoting the improvement of work processes and workplaces, and specifically focuses on changes in behaviour to prevent accidents. Generally valid principles on occupational health and safety as well as prevention are part of the Geberit Code of Conduct and apply to all employees.

Risk assessment and investigation of accidents

The risk assessment of workplaces and the systematic investigation of occupational accidents are a central part of the Geberit Safety System and are standardised across the Group. The risk assessment takes place systematically for all relevant workplaces based on a standard method and evaluation matrix. The accident investigation method was revised in the reporting year and will be introduced in 2025 after a test phase.

Every accident is reported, regardless of the employment relationship and accident severity. A standardised investigation takes place for accidents which result in the employee being absent for at least one working day in order to develop preventative measures. Findings from serious accidents are shared across the Group. A software-based solution for capturing and analysing accidents is used in all 26 production plants.

Occupational health services

Geberit implements various measures in order to avoid health hazards at the workplace. At several production sites, a company physician is on hand or can be called out if needed. Depending on the risk classification of the particular activity, preventative measures are implemented, which include regular occupational medical examinations in the ceramic plants. In addition, emphasis is placed on noise pollution and ergonomics.

Say of employees

96% of all employees worldwide are represented through an occupational health and safety panel or safety committee, in which employer and employee representatives can discuss occupational health and safety issues. These panels are created on behalf of the management and involve all levels of the organisation as well as various specialist roles (including physicians, works council, occupational safety specialists). Employees are also involved in Geberit Safety System processes, such as the risk assessment of workplaces and accident investigations.

Training on occupational health and safety

Training sessions on occupational health and safety are held on a regular basis. At Welcome events, new employees are given information about local health and safety regulations. At production and logistics sites, supervisors also hold workplace-specific training sessions on work-related hazards.

In production and logistics, an eLearning programme is used to help employees to correctly identify and rectify danger areas in the workplace. In the reporting year, it was rolled out at seven more plants.

Promotion of employee health

Geberit promotes the health and well-being of its employees throughout the Group with various precautionary healthcare programmes and opportunities, such as sports facilities and anti-smoking seminars. Comprehensive healthcare programmes are offered to 82% of the workforce.

Particular emphasis is placed on the ergonomic organisation of the workplace, especially in the ceramics plants. For example, ergonomic improvements are being achieved by optimising the packaging processes for pipes at the plant in Givisiez (CH), increasing the use of robots in Lichtenstein (DE) and Koło (PL), and introducing lifting aids in casting shops at the plants in Gaeta (IT) and Carregado (PT).

In addition, managers are trained in health-conscious management, and reintegration counselling is available to support the return to work of employees after a long-term absence due to illness.

Accidents and days lost

The company ensures safe and clean workplaces in its production sites by continuously optimising and modernising its plants and processes. This includes measures such as introducing an appliance for deburring sharp sheet edges when manufacturing installation modules, replacing hazardous substances and implementing measures to reduce dust and noise emissions – such as technical noise reduction measures in the Shanghai plant. The effectiveness of the measures is evaluated by standardised reporting on occupational health and safety.

In the reporting year, 111 accidents were recorded (previous year 132) and 2,275 lost working days due to occupational accidents (previous year 2,177). The statistics show only those occupational accidents suffered by employees and apprentices that occurred during working hours or business travel and led to lost working time of one working day or more. The most frequent injuries were bruising to the body and cuts and stab wounds on hands. In the reporting year, the accident frequency decreased to a value of 6.0 (previous year 7.3), which corresponds to a reduction of 17.8%. The accident severity increased by 3.1% to a value of 123.4 (previous year 119.7) in the same period. Since 2015, the AFR has fallen by 47.4% and the ASR by 40.2%.

In 2024, there was one severe accident and no fatal accidents. Furthermore, the Group-wide absenteeism rate due to accidents and absences due to illness based on regular working hours was 5.2% (previous year 5.2%). Illness-related absences accounted for 98.4% of this rate (previous year 98.4%).

Further key figures can be found under Tables of key figures > Social matters.

Work-related illness

Around 50% of employees in ceramic production are regularly exposed to increased levels of quartz dust. Technical, organisational and personal protective measures are in place, including defined minimum standards for personal protective equipment and hygiene. Geberit makes substantial efforts towards either avoiding the exposure of employees to these risks (e.g. through the installation of additional glazing robots) or minimising this exposure (e.g. through the implementation of silos for micronised silica with direct automatic filling, using low air pressure and extraction devices). Furthermore, the employees regularly undergo occupational medical examinations, including lung checks and X-rays.