Environmental, Health and Safety Management Systems
Baxter applies the same environmental, health and safety (EHS) policies to all its facilities worldwide. Whether a facility is located in Asia, Europe or North America, it is held to the same company EHS requirements and its performance is measured using the same metrics. Baxter's global requirements provide the foundation for the company's EHS program, establishing the minimum standards facilities must meet and maintain. These requirements protect employees, communities and the environment; reduce risk for the company; decrease costs; and reduce incidence of injuries and illnesses.
Global Management Systems
Baxter's EHS program follows a management-systems approach guided by its global EHS requirements. The program has evolved from using internal standards alone to applying externally recognized standards as well to develop EHS program objectives (see box). For example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System Standard provides Baxter a framework for developing a systematic approach to managing its environmental programs, with the goal of continual performance improvement. The company also applies the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 as the health and safety counterpart aimed at properly managing hazards that pose a risk to employees.
History of EHS Standards at Baxter
- Baxter "State-of-the-Art (SOA) Environmental Program" (1991-1997);
- Baxter Health and Safety Best Demonstrated Practices (1995-1997);
- Baxter Environment, Health and Safety standard (BEHSt) (1997-2002), integrating SOA, Best Demonstrated Practices, and ISO 14001 elements;
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System Standard (1997-present); and
- Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001 (OHSAS 18001) (2002-present).
As part of subscribing to ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, Baxter uses tools at the facility, business unit, regional and corporate levels to identify EHS aspects and hazards, assess risks and prioritize risk-reduction efforts. Facilities must review and modify their aspects, hazards and risk assessments as conditions change.
ISO 14001 Certification
Third-party certification to the ISO 14001 standard is a requirement for manufacturing, research and development, and distribution sites with a capacity of more than 10,000 filled pallets at any time or a workforce of 100 or more people. Newly acquired facilities are subject to a phase-in plan and may be evaluated against the certification standards within two years of acquisition.
All but one of the company's sites subject to this requirement achieved or maintained certification by the end of 2008. Since then, regional EHS staff have worked closely with the site EHS personnel and the plant manager to prepare for a follow-up ISO 14001 assessment in 2009. Certification is optional for other Baxter locations. Six such sites have achieved certification.
OHSAS 18001 Certification
In 2002, Baxter adopted OHSAS 18001 as its health and safety management system, and incorporated key OHSAS 18001 elements into its global EHS requirements.
Manufacturing, research and development, and distribution sites that have achieved third-party ISO 14001 certification generally also pursue third-party OHSAS 18001 certification. A successful OHSAS 18001 assessment verifies that the facility's management system facilitates compliance with related regulations and company policy, and impacts employee behaviors in ways that improve workplace safety. Baxter incorporates OHSAS 18001 principles into corporate EHS audits even at facilities that do not pursue certification.
As of December 31, 2008, 29 Baxter locations (see map) met the criteria for OHSAS 18001 certification.1
Global Certification
Individual facilities with effective management systems in place may pursue third-party certification to ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. An external auditing and certification body recommends a facility for certification at the conclusion of a successful EHS audit.
In 1997, Baxter began to certify to ISO 14001 for a group of facilities, working with ERM Certification and Verification Services, the company’s main external auditing and certification body. Since then, Baxter’s group certification has evolved into a global certification including 65 facilities from around the world. In 2007, Baxter also established group certification to OHSAS 18001. Prior to that, Baxter audited to the draft OHSAS standard.
With its global certification, Baxter has improved consistency in evaluating individual facilities, and therefore, in implementing its overall EHS program. Specifically, the global certificate requires Baxter to focus on areas of weakness across all facilities managed under the certificate. Additionally, the company can reduce the frequency and costs of audits by the external certification body.
1 Certification to OHSAS 18001 is not accredited to the same level as ISO 14001.
