Own workforce:
Occupational health and safety

Overview

Motivated and qualified employees are the basis for the long-term success of the company. They are not just experienced experts but also the most important ambassadors of the company.

Geberit is an important employer at its production and sales sites; it has an open corporate culture and offers international development opportunities at the interface between the craft, engineering and marketing and sales sectors. Furthermore, the company is an important training company for apprentices.

Employees

From apprentice
to expert

Patrick Grünbeck is advancing recycling projects and production technologies at the plant in Pottenbrunn (AT).

to the highlight

The significance of the topic “Own workforce” in the value chain

Own workforce: Introduction

Definition and materiality

Geberit believes that its employees are of central importance to the long-term success of the company. Attractive working conditions, development opportunities as well as occupational health and safety make a major contribution to the satisfaction, performance and future of the employees.

The company’s own workforce comprises both staff employed directly and people who regularly provide services to Geberit. Staff employed directly refers to all employees with an employment contract at Geberit, including temporary employees, interns and apprentices.

As part of the double materiality assessment, material impacts, risks and opportunities were identified, which were then assigned to the sub-topics “Working conditions”, “Education and further training” and “Occupational health and safety”. A detailed examination of these can be found in the respective sub-section.

Roles and responsibilities

The highest management level is responsible for “Own employees”:

• The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall strategy, approves relevant guidelines and checks their implementation at least once a year.

• The Group Executive Board is responsible for operational implementation. They are supported in this by specialist departments.

The following topics are the responsibility of the respective departments:

• Corporate Human Resources (Corporate HR): fundamental human and employee rights, working conditions, education and further training.

• Corporate Sustainability: occupational health and safety in production and logistics.

The definition of measures and their implementation at the local level are the responsibility of the individual companies.

The relevant stakeholders are also systematically involved in strategic processes – for example through employee surveys or the Geberit Europe Forum. For further information on the involvement of employees and trade unions, see Stakeholder engagement.

Strategies and policies

The corporate and brand values are defined in the Geberit Compass. The Geberit Code of Conduct, which is binding for all employees worldwide, is the central instrument for preventing discrimination, human rights violations including child and forced labour, violations of rights at work and corruption, as well as for ensuring the protection of intellectual property and compliance with data protection. As a result, it serves as an important guide for ethical, environmentally friendly and socially responsible business practices.

An effective compliance system together with annual Code of Conduct reporting ensures ethical and legally compliant conduct, see Corporate culture and antitrust legislation.

Occupational health and safety

Occupational health and safety has a very high priority at Geberit. The company aims for an accident-free work environment and has established high safety standards to achieve this. Geberit works with the relevant authorities, professional associations and trade unions in each country to address issues such as personal protective equipment, work inspections and training.

Impacts, risks and opportunities

Occupational accidents impair both the professional career and private lives of those affected. They can have a negative impact on production processes and the productivity of the company, thereby giving rise to significant costs. High safety standards are therefore of major importance for the company.

Only negative impacts were identified as part of the double materiality assessment. These are caused predominantly by physically demanding activities such as the lifting and carrying of heavy loads, working at heights and in noisy environments, the incorrect handling of hot surfaces and hazardous substances as well as exposure to silica dust in the ceramics plants. This assessment has been confirmed through surveys of internal and external stakeholders.

The identified material impacts are indicated below:

The identified impacts are relevant on human rights grounds. The issue of human rights within the company is addressed in detail in the chapter Corporate culture and antitrust legislation.

Management system

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

Safety specialists are available in the production plants and central logistics, and 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.

The company has defined clear targets. The AFR (Accident Frequency Rate) is to be reduced to a maximum 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.

Targets are set and regularly reviewed by the Group Executive Board (monthly and annually at site level, and quarterly and annually at Group level). In addition, performance reports for each site are available digitally and submitted to the Group Executive Board. They are part of the annual appraisal of local plant managers at production plants and logistics sites.

Strategies and policies

Two Group-wide policies serve as important control instruments: the Geberit Safety System (GSS) and the Geberit Code of Conduct.

Geberit Safety System (GSS)

The Geberit Safety System (GSS) provides the Group-wide framework for occupational health and safety. The objective of the system is to systematically identify and assess work-related risks, and to reduce them continuously through preventative and corrective action. Among others, the GSS includes regular risk assessments of workplaces and activities, systematic accident investigations, measures to prevent occupational diseases as well as training to raise employee awareness and involvement. The system also ensures compliance with statutory requirements and internal standards.

The GSS is applicable to all employees at the production plants and logistics sites. It deals with the material work-related negative impacts identified within the materiality assessment, for example in relation to physically demanding activities, working at heights and exposure to silica dust in ceramics plants. The content of the GSS is based on the requirements of the international standard ISO 45001:2018 on occupational health and safety management systems.

Code of Conduct for Employees

The Geberit Code of Conduct lays down binding rules that occupational health and safety and accident prevention must be systematically ensured throughout the Group. It forms the central basis for compliance with internal standards as well as statutory and regulatory requirements. The resulting measures include regular training, systematic risk assessments, initiatives to reduce or eliminate hazards, the analysis of accidents, a review of compliance with legal and internal requirements as well as the effectiveness of the measures taken. The Code of Conduct is applicable to all employees. For further information see Corporate culture and antitrust legislation.

Processes, measures and controls

The implementation of the strategies and policies is managed by clearly defined processes, comprehensive training measures as well as effective complaint and control mechanisms.

Existing processes ensure that employees involved in accidents receive appropriate support such as first aid, medical care or compensation. All incidents are investigated internally and, where necessary and appropriate, result in corrective measures; these include process adjustments, technical improvements and targeted training. If external parties such as temporary workers, contractors or service providers are affected, Geberit cooperates with their employers and relevant institutions in order to ensure effective remedial action.

Say of employees

91% of Geberit employees are represented through an occupational health and safety panel or safety committee, in which employer and employee representatives work on occupational health and safety issues. These panels are used by management and involve all levels of the organisation as well as specialist roles such as physicians, the works council and occupational safety specialists.

Employees are actively involved in risk assessments, safety audits, accident investigations, surveys and the continuous improvement process. In many countries, formal agreements ensure that employee representatives are consulted regarding occupational health and safety issues. The Geberit Europe Forum also offers a platform for cross-border exchange. For further information on the involvement of employees, their representatives and trade unions, see Stakeholder engagement.

Risk assessments of workplaces and activities

Risk assessments at Geberit follow either a method and evaluation matrix prescribed by the Group or one of comparable status. This is tailored to statutory provisions and the requirements of the ISO standard on occupational health and safety management systems (ISO 45001:2018). The objective is to systematically identify, assess and minimise hazards.

Accident management system

All accidents are reported, regardless of accident severity or the employment relationship. Production plants and central logistics use a software-based solution for recording and assessing accidents. A standardised investigation takes place for accidents that result in the employee being absent for at least one working day. For accidents involving serious injury, the results of the investigation are shared throughout the Group. The accident investigation method was fully revised in the reporting year; the new method will be implemented from 2026 onwards.

Training on occupational health and safety

Regular training is an integral part of prevention work within the company. At Welcome events, new employees are given information about local health and safety regulations, followed by instructions specific to the workplace provided by their supervisors at production and logistics sites.

As the majority of occupational accidents and time lost are attributable to carelessness, the company attaches great importance to long-term training and raising awareness. This includes eLearning programmes as well as local training and instruction, which support employees in identifying danger areas in the workplace at an early stage and rectifying them consistently.

Health promotion & ergonomic improvements

Geberit promotes the health and well-being of employees throughout the Group with a variety of healthcare programmes, including initiatives relating to exercise, mental fitness, workplace design and sport.

Particular emphasis is placed on ergonomic workplace design. Ergonomic improvements are implemented as part of the ongoing optimisation and modernisation of processes and equipment – for example, through the procurement of additional lifting aids in ceramics plants in particular, as well as the use of anti-fatigue mats and lifting devices for moulds. In addition, the activity-specific risk assessment concerning the manual handling of loads has been methodically revised at a number of plants in order to identify ergonomic issues more precisely and to derive specific improvement measures.

In addition, managers are trained in health-conscious management. The aim is to serve as a role model for healthy behaviour and to promote the physical and psychological health of employees, for example through the careful management of workloads and stress or the promotion of more ergonomic workstations.

Prevention of work-related illnesses

Around 50% of employees in ceramic production are regularly exposed to increased levels of quartz dust. Technical, organisational and personal protective measures for protecting health are in place, including defined minimum standards for protective equipment and hygiene. Geberit makes systematic efforts towards avoiding exposure or minimising it as far as possible – for example through glazing robots, automated silo filling for micronised silica, and low-pressure and extraction devices.

Employees undergo occupational medical examinations, including lung checks and X-rays. The Group-wide threshold of 0.05 mg/m³ for the respirable portion of quartz dust is complied with for most of the affected production processes, and is even lower than the less strict national legal requirements in a number of ceramics plants. Increased concentrations in the air at the workplace are recorded in the area of slip and glaze preparation, casting, raw sorting and glazing in particular. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used and health monitoring measures are implemented at workplaces at which thresholds are exceeded. In addition, regular measurements and a plan of action provide the basis for local corrections and the continuous reduction of exposure to dust. This topic is an integral part of the Geberit Safety System (GSS).

In addition, as a member of the European Sanitaryware Producers Federation (FECS), the Group is also part of the European Network on Silica (NEPSI) programme of Cerame-Unie for controlling exposure to quartz dust and implementing best practices. The company works with the relevant authorities, professional associations and trade unions in each country to address issues such as protective equipment and work inspections.

Replacement of hazardous substances

Geberit aims to reduce the use of substances that represent a hazard to health or a danger to the environment. Wherever possible, hazardous substances are replaced by less critical alternatives. Replacement occurs subject to technical feasibility, legal requirements and a health assessment.

Particular attention is given to substances that are potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR substances). Processes and materials are reviewed and adjusted on an ongoing basis in close cooperation with suppliers and internal departments. Replacement is an integral part of managing hazardous substances at Geberit and is supported by training, technical examinations and approval processes. The quantity (in tonnes) of hazardous substances purchased during the reporting year fell by 0.6%.

Occupational health services

Geberit implements a number of measures in order to avoid or minimise health hazards at the workplace. Access to a company physician is ensured at all production sites, who either works locally on site 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 reducing noise pollution and improving ergonomics.

Channels for feedback and complaints

Production sites use various reporting systems such as suggestion boxes, digital tools, feedback sessions and town hall meetings through which employees can submit complaints or suggested improvements relating to occupational health and safety.

All incoming messages are recorded, classified, followed up and processed with clear responsibilities. Information obtained via channels for complaints, risk assessments, safety audits or employee feedback as part of the continuous improvement process is systematically documented and prioritised. In addition, all employees can use the Geberit Integrity Line as an anonymous whistleblower channel.

Internal and external controls and audits

Compliance with the Geberit Safety System (GSS) is regularly reviewed through internal and external audits. Cross-site occupational health and safety (OHS) audits are organised and carried out by the Group. The Safety Culture Review concept was developed during the reporting year to supplement the existing OHS audit programme, with the objective of auditing sites in a holistic manner – both with regard to the established safety management system and the prevailing safety culture in practice. The new audit programme is called “Safety 360 Program”. The first pilot audit was started in 2025, with additional audits planned for 2026. In addition, safety patrols and inspections are carried out at the sites by the local plant managers and safety officers.

Moreover, all production plants and the logistics centre in Pfullendorf (DE) are certified in accordance with the ISO 45001 standard for occupational health and safety management systems. An external ISO audit is carried out at each site every three years as part of Group certification. Furthermore, internal ISO audits are regularly carried out – either locally by plants themselves or on a cross-site level.

Measures and key figures in the reporting year

Accidents and absences

The statistics show only those occupational accidents suffered by employees, apprentices and temporary staff that occurred during working hours or business travel and led to lost working time of one working day or more.

In the reporting year, 150 accidents were recorded (previous year 111) and 2,556 lost working days due to occupational accidents (previous year 2,275). There were two severe accidents and no fatal accidents.

Cuts and stab wounds were most frequent, followed by bruising. Hands and fingers were most affected, followed by feet and the head. The Accident Frequency Rate thus increased to a value of 8.0 (previous year 6.0). The Accident Severity Rate increased from 123.4 to 136.5 in the same period.

Furthermore, the Group-wide absenteeism rate due to accidents and absences due to illness based on regular working hours was 5.0% (previous year 5.2%). Illness-related absences accounted for 98.3% of this rate (previous year 98.4%).

The increase in the Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) and the Accident Severity Rate (ASR) during the reporting year is due to the increased production volume. Within this context, the integration of new employees with still limited experience in dealing with site-specific hazards increased the accident risk in particular. Both figures fell according to the long-term comparison, as shown in the figure below:

Training courses

The “Occupational Health and Safety” eLearning programme raises employee awareness concerning hazards at the workplace and shows how to use personal protective equipment properly. By 2025, the programme had been introduced in a total of 14 production plants. Sites continue to provide their own local training. In addition, the combination of digital and site-specific formats is still being supported in order to entrench safety-conscious behaviour within everyday work on a long-term basis.

Definitions and calculation bases

Geberit relies on primary data from data recording systems found within the Group.

• Accident Frequency Rate (AFR): occupational accidents with lost time of one working day or more per million working hours. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Accident Severity Rate (ASR): number of days lost per million hours worked. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Lost working days due to occupational accidents: total of all lost working days due to occupational accidents. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Overall absenteeism rate: absenteeism rate (accident + illness) based on regular working hours. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Absenteeism rate due to illness: proportion of absences due to illness. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Severe accidents: accidents involving serious injury such as skull fractures or amputations with bone loss resulting in permanent impairment/disability. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Healthcare programme: proportion of employees with access to healthcare programmes. Scope of application: Group-wide

• Employees represented by occupational health and safety panels/safety committees: number of employees in committees. Scope of application: Group-wide