WACKER emphasizes the importance of informing its employees of health hazards. We regularly organize health campaigns on various topics. In 2014, for example, we held groupwide events on the subject of back health. At WACKER, back problems are the leading cause of sick days and limitations at the workplace. Under the motto “Mind your back. Stay active.” employees learned basic rules for setting up an ergonomically sound PC work station and found out about preventative measures.

Additionally, employees are offered fitness classes if suitable facilities are available at their site. The health-promotion programs include addiction-prevention seminars and back training. WACKER also encourages employees to participate in inter-company running events.

An influenza vaccination is offered once a year for all employees, at all sites around the world. This vaccination is free of charge and voluntary.

WACKER promotes substance abuse prevention. In general, alcohol is forbidden at work. All managerial staff members are required to attend training programs on the topic of substance abuse prevention. These programs aim to help them recognize employees who are at risk or are already addicted, and to assist them in seeking proper treatment. We also provide management with courses on detecting employees suffering from psychological stress and on alleviating the problem.

Since 2014, Health Services is offering the Mental Health Toolbox on the intranet. It is designed to help employees and managers stay in sound mental health despite the demands of day-to-day working life. To this end, the Toolbox contains information on various topics concerning mental health (Tool 1), backed up by DIY tests, specific forms of practical help (Tool 2) and information about support options available at WACKER and from outside bodies (Tool 3).

In 2013, we launched the “Fit for Your Shift” project together with the South German branch of the statutory pension insurance system (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Süd). We turned it into a long-term collaboration in 2014. In this health program, which is tailored specifically to shift workers, participants are taught habits that can help them deal better with the pressures of shift work in the long term. The program consists of four modules: a one-week stay at a rehabilitation clinic, a three-month program of training at the workplace, a six-month period during which workers continue the training on their own, and a final refresher weekend. Evaluation of the program in the period under review showed that it significantly reduced risk factors such as body weight and body mass index (BMI) and improved the participants’ training level and the quality of their sleep. The European Chemical Industry Council CEFIC honored “Fit for Your Shift” with a special commendation as part of the European Responsible Care Awards 2014 competition.

The number of recognized occupational diseases is very low at WACKER’s German sites. Respiratory diseases and cancer are the most frequent causes of illness; there are some isolated cases where previous exposure to asbestos or benzene has caused occupational diseases. Suspected cases of occupational diseases, which WACKER evaluated for the first time in 2013 for its German sites, also center on these diseases. So far, WACKER has not evaluated groupwide figures concerning occupational diseases of its employees, because the criteria for the recognition of illnesses as occupational vary from country to country.