Eternit’s management is guided by good business practices, including the initiatives of the United Nations (UN), such as the Eight Millennium Goals, which is a series of commitments and goals involving human rights, the environment and development. Since 2007, the Company has also been signatory to the Global Compact. As a result, various internal activities comply with the principles of the document, such as personnel management practices and the special care to be adopted with natural resources (see references in the content index).
The Company is also preparing to adopt, in the long term, the Blueprint – Action Plan for Corporate Sustainability Leadership, which identifies best practices linked to the Global Compact and sets 50 criteria for enabling the leadership to reach even higher levels of sustainability.
The contents of Eternit’s Code of Ethics have been broadly disseminated internally, and 100% of employees, including managers, have received training and guidance on its use, whether through programs to integrate new professionals, the Employee Manual, the intranet or through regular training and internal communication actions. The activities focus on anti-corruption policies and procedures as well as disciplinary practices. Compliance with the Code is monitored through workplace climate surveys and audits. GRI SO3 Global Compact 10
The integration programs offered to all employees also cover the standards and procedures related to human rights. Training programs on the topic have been conducted at Eternit (for 100% of leaders and new employees, with an approximate total of 1,568 hours), at SAMA (for 100% of new employees hired and outsourced workers contracted in the year, with an approximate total of 1,829 hours) and at Tégula (for 100% of new employees, with a total of 831 hours). All safety personnel at Eternit, SAMA and Tégula also received training on human rights in 2013. No incidents of discrimination were registered in the year at any of the Group’s companies. GRI HR3 | HR4 | HR8 Global Compact 1 | 6
All of the Company’s units underwent audits in the period on one or more subject matters (human resources, inventory, costs, etc.) to assess the procedures adopted with a view to ensuring the proper application of the internal rules, Brazilian law, industry standards and other legal provisions, as well as to assess the consistency of the information generated. GRI SO2 Global Compact 10
The company has formal whistleblowing channels, such as Talk to the CEO, through which all employees, partners, clients and suppliers can communicate with the CEO while remaining completely anonymous. The Talk to the CEO channel is also available at Tégula and is open to all stakeholders, while Eternit has the Talk to HR channel, which is exclusively for employees and also does not require identification. No incidents of corruption by employees were registered in 2013. GRI SO4
The Integrated System Policy (PSI) promotes greater synergy among Eternit’s management tools and guides the activities aimed at continuous improvement in health, environment and safety.
The operations of Eternit, Precon and SAMA are certified by the standards ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ohsas 18001 (occupational health and safety management). In fact, SAMA was the world’s first chrysotile asbestos mining company to comply with these standards. The environmental management system adopted by these units identifies and controls environmental aspects in accordance with federal, state and municipal law and is based on the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) methodology.
Eternit and its outsourced freight carriers also comply with the requirements of the Industry Quality Program (PSQ Chrysotile).
Meanwhile, SAMA maintains an Integrated Management System that encompasses quality, environment, occupational health and safety and social responsibility and is committed to rigorously complying with all legal requirements related to the safe use of chrysotile asbestos.
Grounded in the principles of transparency, Eternit’s relationship with its shareholders and the general market is based on the broad disclosure of information. The Information Disclosure and Use Manual and the Securities Trading Policy indicate the best practices to be adopted by the Company’s managers and employees. The document addresses the responsibility to communicate and disclose material information involving the Company’s business and activities.