Health, Safety and Well-being

Our goal is Target Zero - zero work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Ericsson Care is the company’s holistic approach for health, safety and well-being that enables us to achieve Target Zero. Prevention is at the heart of a positive culture of health, safety and well-being, which we foster through Ericsson Care.

We drive a proactive agenda that goes beyond legal compliance, international standards, and customer requirements to protect safety as well as physical and psychosocial health.

Health, safety and well-being management system

At Ericsson, we manage health, safety and well-being risks and opportunities with a systemic and comprehensive framework, which is aligned with ISO 45001 and aspires towards ISO 45003. Additionally, our suppliers are required to meet Ericsson Supplier Requirements in the health, safety and well-being area.

Our Health, Safety and Well-being Management System is integrated in the Ericsson Group Management System (EGMS) and certified according to the ISO 45001 standard. Selected operations undergo internal and external assessments to ensure compliance with relevant requirements.

For more information about EGMS and our valid ISO certifications please go to Quality work.

Risk-based approach

At Ericsson, we adopt an inclusive and risk-based approach to avoid incidents and prevent, control, and mitigate work-related hazards or ill-health to our employees, as well as anyone working on Ericsson’s behalf, and support in maintaining their overall health and well-being.

High-risk activities are strictly controlled at Ericsson. Many high-risk activities are subject to a process that involves several checks, such as pre-work site surveys, risk assessments, pre-work checks, and inspections during the work. Specific standards that apply for high-risk activities are published on Supplier Occupational Health and Safety Requirements - Ericsson

The basics of safety are captured in eight Lifesaving Rules that apply to and are mandatory for everyone when working for Ericsson. The Lifesaving rules cover driving, seatbelt use, helmet wearing, alcohol and drug use, personal protective equipment, drop zones, working at heights, and electrical safety.

Incident reporting and management

At Ericsson, we encourage our employees as well as our suppliers to report incidents related to health, safety and well-being, including concerns, risk observations and near misses, as well as Stop Work Authority cases. Employees and suppliers can access Global Incident Reporting Tool – OHS GIRT - Ericsson to report any incident.

This process is crucial for identifying root causes and trends so that we can be proactive in implementing measures to prevent future occurrences. We require all incidents be reported in a timely fashion and acted upon swiftly by the applicable management team.

Training and competence

At Ericsson, we provide appropriate health, safety and well-being training to employees and make sure that it is received prior to the beginning of work and regularly thereafter.

For introducing Target Zero and Ericsson health, safety and well-being requirements to our suppliers, we have launched relevant supplier training courses. 

Supplier health, safety and well-being management

Ericsson mandates that all suppliers implement and adhere to our Health, Safety, and Well-Being Requirements . These base requirements are integral to our strategy, aiming not only at ensuring safe and efficient operations, but also at fostering a workplace environment that prioritizes overall well-being and strives for Target Zero. Our suppliers must fully comprehend and follow these requirements and standards and ensure they are integrated into the suppliers’ own ways of working and daily operations.

Ericsson has also established a systemic supplier health, safety and well-being management framework towards our site service suppliers, which includes pre-screening, maturity assessment, KPIs and performance review, engagement activities, recognition, and consequence management. All of these activities aim to effectively manage suppliers’ adherence to Ericsson’s relevant requirements, prevent work-related incidents, and work jointly with them to secure their employees’ health, safety, and well-being.

Supplier Health, Safety and Well-being recognition

At Ericsson we believe promoting right behaviours is essential to create the safety culture. Our supplier safety recognition programs consist of three different recognition categories: safe behaviour, best practice and top improvement suggestion.  

This program aims to motivate suppliers to be aware and mindful of hazards, risks and be proactive to exceed current practices.

Performance measurement and continual improvement

At Ericsson we annually set concrete targets, KPIs, and leading and lagging indicators in the health, safety, and well-being area to measure our performance. We also establish KPIs in the same area for our site service suppliers and review performance with them individually for continual improvement.

A focus of our continual improvement efforts is to expand and deepen the understanding and practice of health, safety and well-being. This includes increasing the awareness and competence among all personnel, raising operational standards, enhancing adherence checks, improving management tools, and reinforcing governance at different levels.

For more information on health, safety and well-being,  please download the latest  Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility report.