Health, Safety & environmental performance

Summary

Management actively addresses the possible effects of the Company’s activities on employee health and safety and on the environment. The obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees is paramount. The Group’s policy is to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, and to seek ways of reducing any adverse impact upon its surroundings through waste reduction and recycling schemes and programmes to improve energy efficiency.

Communication

Health, Safety and Environmental performance is reported to shareholders in the annual report and to staff through internal communication channels, such as induction, all-company briefings, and through notice boards. The Group reports environmental policy and performance through agencies such as EIRIS and will strive to maintain membership of the FTSE4Good index.

Health, Safety & Environment Committee

The Committee is responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group’s policy on health, safety and environmental issues. The Chief Executive is the Board member with responsibility for HSE matters. The Committee reports formally to the Board bi-annually.

The Biocompatibles Health, Safety & Environment Committee meets monthly in order to review performance, improve systems and set policy with a vision of providing a safe working environment for employees and visitors; operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and in compliance with health & safety and environmental regulations; seeking ways of reducing any adverse impact upon the environment; and minimising accidents through education, awareness training and effective management.

Health & Safety Performance

Detailed procedure training in risk assessment and handling of cytotoxic drugs has been provided to staff as a result of the increased handling of cytotoxic compounds in the research, development and manufacturing of our Drug Eluting Bead products. Both Biocompatibles UK and CellMed ensure the correct personal protective equipment and procedures are in place for working with hazardous compounds and regular blood screening is in place for all lab workers at risk of exposure. The Company also invests in safetyenhancing process equipment, an example of which is a new isolator in Farnham for the handling of cytotoxic drugs.

The Biocompatibles UK accident rate was reduced again in 2006, to 0.27 accidents per 10,000 hours worked. All accidents were minor and there were no notifications under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). There were no accidents at CellMed. 

Accident Table 2007

Environmental Performance

Both Biocompatibles UK and CellMed maintained their records of compliance with environmental regulation. Total energy usage and carbon emissions increased at both sites but energy efficiency improved. A number of environmental measures are in place at the CellMed site, including the use of clean gas for heating, the use of cool water in the concrete elements of the building for economic cooling and the use of greywater in the bathrooms. Cathode Ray Tube computer monitors have been replaced by low power LCD versions; low energy lightbulbs are in standard use and printer consumables are recycled. Paper is recyled at both sites and consumption was reduced at Biocompatibles UK as a result of the introduction of duplex printing.

 
 
Biocompatibles UK (2003=100)
2003
2004
2005
2006
Energy Usage Total kGJ
100
100
120
125
Absolute usage in 2003
 4kGj
      
Carbon emissions CO2 equivalent (tonnes)
100
102
111
113
Absolute emissions in 2003
 394t
      
 
CellMed (2005=100)
    
2005
2006
Energy Usage Total kGJ    
100
116
Absolute usage in 2005    
0.97kGJ
  
Carbon emissions CO2 equivalent (tonnes)    
100
115
Absolute emissions in 2005    
108t