Leadership in Safety

Today, the prestigious DuPont Safety Awards for individual and collective initiatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa recognised Borealis as the winner in the Business Impact category at the 2005 DuPont Leaders Forum in Geneva. The DuPont Safety Award recognises significant projects in workplace safety or society at large that have been led by individuals, companies or organisations. This year's expert selection jury awarded five top prizes in the areas of innovative approach, performance improvement, felt leadership, business impact and cultural evolution.

"The common thread among the winners is that they understand the strong link between business performance and creating a safer workplace," said Mathieu Vrijsen, President, DuPont Europe, Middle East and Africa. "Each of these companies has shown exceptional dedication and innovation in reducing injuries and creating a safety culture."

The DuPont Safety Award recognises Borealis' successful business transformation since 2001 which included making a step change in safety across the Group, including contractors, and thereby improving its overall operational excellence. As a result, Borealis' moved to a leading position in safety as demonstrated by its continuous reduction of its Total Recordable Injuries (TRI). Borealis' four production hubs (Scandinavia, Belgium, Central Europe and Finland) and its compounding units in Brazil, Italy and the USA have significantly decreased their TRI frequency from 16.3 in 1996 to 6.9 in 2001 down to 1.9 as of end October 2005. Importantly, Borealis' success in terms of operational excellence has continued to have a strong impact on business success, with the company looking to obtain an 11% return on capital employed (after tax) in 2005 and showing continuous profit despite a challenging economic climate.

"I am very proud to receive this award on behalf of all employees in Borealis and our contractors. Personally, I have always said that I don't want anyone to get hurt while working in Borealis. The mindset of safety, quality and housekeeping all go together and set a high performance standard. This achievement has involved everyone in Borealis. Our success in safety has been a fundamental part of the company's transformation over the past four years," said John Taylor Borealis Chief Executive.

"Borealis has shown real leadership in successfully implementing a fully integrated culture of safety within their organisation including their contractors. We are confident that their workplace safety excellence will be a catalyst for greater commitment from other organisations," says Juan Aguiriano, President, DuPont Safety Resources Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The DuPont Safety Awards ceremony was a highlight of the DuPont Leaders Forum annual event. The Leaders Forum is part of an on-going programme to expand thinking and foster strong actions in safety at work and at home. The World Safety Declaration, first unveiled in September at the 17th World Congress of Safety and Health at Work, was signed on November 17th with Borealis as one of the charter's founding members thus demonstrating global, long-term commitment to be a leading responsible player in the industry.

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