The theme of this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the need for companies, governments and countries to collect and use reliable occupational safety and health data as part of their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent work).

At Essilor, on the path to our goal of zero accidents, policies covering health, safety and quality working conditions are one of four areas of focus for ensuring employee well-being. Over many years we’ve formalized and deployed an ambitious program of accident prevention and risk reduction in the workplace including the development of behavior-based safety programs as part of LIFE, the Group’s collaborative improvement program in operations.

It’s driven by the Global Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) team working with Human Resources, and supported by an international network of EHS coordinators including experts in occupational illnesses and ergonomists at the Group’s main production sites, prescription labs and offices. Together they monitor key health, safety and environment indicators, track progress and share best practices.

Collecting and analyzing data is essential for occupational health and safety management systems and to help reaching future targets. To improve safety and reduce workplace accidents to zero, Essilor aims to reduce the frequency rate of accidents with lost days by 30% by 2020 (by comparison with 2015 as baseline).