Occupational Accidents

KEY FIGURES

Occupational accidents

Whereas 2019 and 2020 saw a further significant decrease in the number of lost-time accidents, continuing the downward trend of the previous years, this decline was interrupted in 2021 with 52 lost-time accidents. Although the reduction of −30% envisaged in the global prevention plan of 2017–2021 compared with the frequency rate of 2016 was comfortably achieved in both 2019 and 2020, we unfortunately saw a substantial increase at the end of 2021. However, in terms of severity rate (the number of calendar days lost per thousand hours worked), a positive evolution can be seen from 2019 to 2021 with a decrease of 834 calendar days lost and a 44.8% lower severity rate. This means that although there were more accidents in 2021, they were less serious overall.

In the new global prevention plan 2021–2025, we are aiming for a target of 21.60 by the end of 2025.

COVID-19

An increase of 20 lost-time accidents and a 57.9% higher frequency rate. The difference between 2020 and 2021 could not be more pronounced. There are several explanations. In 2021, we noticed a certain “coronavirus fatigue” and the frustrations that go with it. In addition, there were numerous changes at the terminal in 2021: creative stacking due to overcapacity, various changes in the straddle carrier parking area, relocation of the staff car park, relocation to the operations building, relocation of the release area, and changes in the truck flow.

By the end of 2021, these changes had largely been implemented and should have no longer had a negative impact on the figures. This was a positive trend that, fortunately, we were able to observe in the last few months of 2021.