Performance

We had an improvement in combined LTIF from 3.4 in 2005 to 2.8 in 2006. In line with a commitment we made in our Health, Safety and Environment Report 2003, from January 2005 all Corus Business Units commenced reporting employee recordable cases. The employee recordable case frequency improved from 17.1 in 2005 to 9.8 in 2006 - a 43% reduction.

These improvements reflect the continued commitment of all our Buiness Units to improve their health and safety performance and to reduce accident rates. It also demonstrates that we have been successful in maintaining recognition of the improtance of health and safety across the Group in 2006 

Despite the improvement in LTIF, the number of fatalities at our sites is still unacceptable and we are continuing to take action to improve this situation. In 2006, our sickness absence rate was 3.8%, which was an improvement from 4.2% in 2005.

Key developments in 2006                                                        

Executive Committee safety tours     

147 Executive Committee safety tours were carries our during 2006, which exceed our target of 140. These tours demonstrate leadership, provide motivation, identify priorities for improvement and help share good practice across the group.

Standards                                                      

In 2006 we developed and launched four new mandatory health and safety standards covering asbestos management, the control of legionalla in water systems, on-site traffic and working at height.

Internal health and safety audits          

In 2006 we introduced an internal audit programme for our health and safety standards, with the managing directors of each Business Unit leading an audit on another Business Unit. These audits assess compliance with our health and safety standards and identify opportunities for improvement. Each year three standards will be selected to be covered by this internal audit programme.

Competence                                   

During 2006 our senior managment training programme for health and safety, which was introduced in 2005, was developed to cover all levels of management and supervision. Four successful pilot exercises were run covering our five steelmaking plants. This will be extended to include in excess of 1,000 managers and supervisors during 2007.

Health and hygiene                 

This year, as part of our Revitalising Health strategy, we have developed a comprehensive health and hygiene resource on our intranet site, CorusSafe. This strategy is underpinned by:

• Prevention - We provide practical advise to our employees on how to prevent ill health and injuries through hazard identification, risk assessment and control. CorusSafe has information on our key occupational hygiene issues around chemical, physical, biological and argonomicf hazards. Guidance is also provided on health and travel, deep vein thrombosis, display screen equipment assessments, keeping cool in the heat, and influenza prevention.
• Re-integration - Getting back to work is a big step to make after illness and we support our employees to achieve their recovery goals through occupational health support services and workplace adjustments. For example, at Corus Distribution & Building Systems UK and Irelend, we have introduced the IPRS Total Injury Solutions Programme to provide a cost-beneficial absence management service to employees. The programme provides immediate access to assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, and is supported with objective measurement of overall function and ability. During the last 12 months, the programme has been instrumental in preventing an estimated 836 days of sickness absence.
• Promotion - We help to educate our employees on how to prevent illness, and how to prevent existing illness from becoming worse by living healthier lifestyles. CorusSafe provides guidance on diet, exercise, smoking and cancer prevention. For example at Corus Construction & Industrial, Scunthorpe, the Occupational Health team has modernised its service with the multi-disciplined team now involved in the health maintenance strategies of our employees. Their Health 4 Life initiative focuses on the prevention of ill health through health surveillance, health promotion and sickness absence management.