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"Occupational Health deals with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards." (WHO).
Occupational health (OH) is a multidisciplinary field of healthcare concerned with enabling individuals to undertake their occupation in a way that results in the least harm to their health. The professional practice concerned with maintaining OH and safety in workplaces is called Industrial Hygiene (IH).
Various actions are taken at ICL to maintain its employees’ health.
Early on, as the emergence of COVID-19 was being tracked across the globe, ICL created a task force dedicated to identifying and managing the pandemic within ICL’s work sites worldwide. Best practices were established and shared across sites. This active engagement proved itself and only a handful of ICL employees became ill due to COVID-19. Read more on ICL’s COVID-19 response.
Hazardous factors affecting employees’ environments are evaluated at ICL work sites. An annual plan for Industrial Air Monitoring is executed at all ICL plants, as required by local authorities. Chemicals defined as hazardous under the regulations, such as raw materials, and materials that are part of the production process or products, are routinely monitored under this plan.
In case of irregularities, corrective actions are taken. Action items may include implementing improved working and cleanup procedures, reducing emissions through improved machinery, technology, and infrastructure, and by revising and adjusting personal protective equipment (PPE).
ICL inspects noise levels and employees are trained to minimize exposure to noise. Noise reduction activities are performed where possible. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided as well.
ICL performs industrial hygiene surveys to determine what occupational health activities to implement at its production sites.
The Health Risk Assessment surveys are conducted to consider risk factors at plants, including chemical hazards, physical hazards, and work routines. The surveys are performed in cooperation with the relevant production and safety units.
Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA) is an instrument to assess intrinsic hazards of substances as required for the registration process worldwide. It includes the evaluation of all available relevant information needed to assess risks arising from the manufacture and/or use of the substances.
The CSA is based on physical, chemical, toxicological, and environmental information generated by the HERA scientific group.
Quantitative values such as Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) or Derived No Effect Levels (DNELs) are based on the toxicological data generated by the HERA scientific group. These values are established to prevent employees and the general public from over-exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Increasing employee awareness of hazardous factors is a crucial element in the prevention and control of work-related illnesses. As a result, health and safety training programs for workers are provided at ICL production facilities.
Employees are trained to manage and mitigate specific health hazards to which they may be exposed. Managers are trained to be knowledgeable of local regulations and how to protect their employees accordingly.
Units with special characteristics are trained accordingly.
Employees that are exposed to health hazards are checked regularly at medical centers. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided to our employees, as well as training on how to use it properly.
In addition, the Company offers periodic general medical check-ups for its employees. An occupational physician is consulted whenever needed. Health-promoting programs are also performed at different ICL work sites.
Ergonomic aspects are considered in every planning process of a new workstation. In Israel, employees are trained as part of a health promotion service. Ergonomic consultation is provided wherever required.
ICL continuously promotes the health and wellbeing of its workforce. A variety of training is offered to workers, including lectures and educational software on various topics (for example, smoking prevention, Corona vaccines, women’s health, ergonomics for employees working from home) whose purpose is to raise awareness of health-related topics.
As part of their agreements with ICL, contractors are obligated to provide their workers with measures to protect their occupational health. This includes medical checkups, proper PPEs and training. All contractors are also required to comply with local health regulations. ICL also works with its contractors in Israel regarding safety issues (more details here).
