Ahlstrom-Munksjö believes that zero accidents is possible. The long-term goal is an accident-free workplace and in order to achieve this target, the company is certifying its plants with the ISO 45001-standard.

To achieve the long-term target and to ensure a safe working environment, Ahlstrom-Munksjö focuses on preventative activities, behavior-based safety interactions, safety inspections, auditing and tailored safety training. The performance is managed through systematic and efficient health and safety management processes.

Out of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s 45 plants globally, eight have so far been ISO45001:2018 certified. The new standard, published in March 2018, confirms excellence and good practices in occupational health and safety management systems. It promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing a framework that allows organizations to identify and reduce their risks related to occupational health and safety, reduce potential for workplace accidents and illnesses and improve legislative compliance.

The target is that all Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s plants will be certified with the standard at the latest in 2021.

“A strong global safety culture increases the health and safety accountability for all coworkers, contractors and visitors. We are committed to apply the best practices within occupational health and safety and I am very happy to see this latest achievement. The ability to offer a safe place to work also supports us in attracting, developing and retaining talent for our global operations,” says Dan Adrianzon, executive vice president, People & Safety at Ahlstrom-Munksjö.

“This new international, dynamic and process based safety management standard considers risks and opportunities rather than risks only and at the same time it requires that the views of our stakeholders are considered. This is fully in line with our preventative health and safety strategy. This standard takes our plants to a new level, and also increases efficiency, as it’s based on the other ISO management system standards,” says Rune Årnes, vice president Health & Safety at Ahlstrom-Munksjö.

The new standard replaces the previous OHSAS 18001:2007 standard, which still continues to be the most widespread framework for occupational health and safety management. Currently 25 of Ahlstrom-Munksjö`s plants are OHSAS18001:2007 certified.

The majority of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s 8,000 employees work in circumstances where health, safety and environmental risks are present and the company’s operations hence require excellent performance in safeguarding health, safety, and environmental related issues.