GRI Announces OHS Working Group for G4 Development Process

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a network-based organization that pioneered the world’s most widely-used sustainability reporting framework, has announced the formation of a ‘Working Group’ for occupational health and safety. The Working Group will examine OHS performance indicators to help build the content of the new G4 guidelines and will make recommendations on indicators for inclusion.

GRI noted that several issues had come to light throughout the development process that will be addressed by the OHS Working Group. Of particular concern was the need to refocus the current safety and health Performance Indicators to improve clarity and transparency in performance reporting. They also identified the need to give more consideration to contractors/subcontractors and consolidate data so that it is regionally and globally standardized.

Welcoming the GRI announcement, Tom Cecich, Chair of the Center Board of Directors, said that “we at the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability are delighted that GRI has formed a Working Group for this important subject. We very much look forward to contributing to its work program and to doing whatever we can to enhance the health and safety content of G4 guidelines.”

The Center, he added, feels “this is a first and vital step towards raising occupational health and safety reporting standards and performance worldwide – saving lives, supporting businesses and sustaining economies.”

The Working Group will make recommendations on the OHS indicators for inclusion in G4, followed by a second public comment period (August to October), during which we will again seek your much-appreciated support.

We very much welcome this news, a vital step towards raising occupational health and safety reporting standards and performance worldwide – saving lives, supporting businesses and sustaining economies.

The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability (CSHS), established in 2010, is committed to ensuring the safety, health, and sustainability of the global workforce. The Center engages safety and health partners around the world to establish minimum standards that help reduce workplace injuries and ill health. A collaborative effort of AIHA, ASSE and IOSH, the Center represents over 80,000 workplace safety and health professionals worldwide.

Center for Safety and Health Sustainability was officially launched at the Safety 2011 Professional Development Conference — Organizational stakeholder relationship with GRI announced

The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability was launched on Monday, June 13th at 4:00 PM at ASSE's Safety 2011 Professional Development Conference. The Center is an organizational stakeholder of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a network-based organization that pioneered the world's most widely-used sustainability reporting framework. GRI's vast experience in sustainability reporting and its existing network of stakeholders will allow the Center to work toward a standardized framework for measurement and reporting safety and health sustainability/CSR performance.

Why a Center?

Organizations are increasingly adopting the "triple bottom line" — or social, economic, and environmental — approach to taking responsibility for sustainability. Unfortunately, when an organization considers the "social" aspect of sustainability, occupational safety and health receives very little attention, if any at all.

The case for safety and health as an integral part of sustainability is compelling. Every year more than 2 million people die from occupational accidents or work-related diseases, and there are several millions more cases of non-fatal occupational accidents and diseases.

Learn about the role of safety and health in sustainability.

The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability was developed in response, and will provide safety and health professionals with a stronger voice in shaping sustainability policies—both in business and in public policy.

The Center has the primary goal of developing and defining safety and health as a vital part of sustainability, in order to contribute to the ultimate goal of improving the safety and health of workers worldwide. It will provide new insights into the measurement, management, and impact of safety and health sustainability. The goal is for the Center to become a recognized thought leader for sustainability and corporate social responsibility as it educates the business community on the importance of safety in good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

The Center will harness the expertise of occupational safety and health professionals to participate in the development of GRI's G4 Guidelines, to be published in 2013. The Center has developed a list of key safety and health performance indicators to encourage a comprehensive and standardized approach to measuring not only lagging, but leading indicators of safety and health. The Center is in the process of vetting these key safety and health sustainability performance indicators with other international safety and health organizations, corporations, and the broader stakeholder community.

Vision

For all organizations to recognize their responsibility to ensure that the protection of human life and the safety, health, and well-being of workers, customers, and neighboring communities is among the primary considerations in any business practices, operations, or development.

Goals

• To provide a strong voice and comprehensive leadership for safety and health in shaping sustainability policies.
• To educate the business community on the importance of safety as part of good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility/sustainability.
• To provide new insights into the measurement, management, and impact of safety and health sustainability.
• To be a recognized thought leader for sustainability and corporate social responsibility.