I have always liked Apple products, in fact I’m typing this right now on an iMac, but to see Apple holding their suppliers accountable made me think even more highly of their organization. In the global economy it is only RIGHT to require all workers to have a safe, hazard-free workplace no matter where the location.
The following is the except from the report that covers EHS findings.
“Occupational injury prevention
Apple requires suppliers to provide a safe work environment, to eliminate physical hazards wherever possible, and to establish administrative controls that reduce risks.
Our audits revealed 70 facilities with violations in administrative controls. For example, we found forklift drivers who did not have proper licenses and equipment that had not been inspected according to law. Apple required facilities to ensure workers have appropriate training, licenses, and certifications as required by law and to establish a schedule for performing required inspections.
Apple found 49 facilities where workers were not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as earplugs, safety glasses, and dust masks. In some instances, the facility had not provided the appropriate safety equipment, while in others, the workers neglected to use the provided equipment or were using it improperly. We directed facilities to provide the required PPE, to educate both workers and supervisors on the risks of not wearing such equipment, and to hold supervisors accountable for ensuring that workers wear the equipment.
Ergonomics
Apple requires each facility to assess which of its operations pose ergonomic risks to workers—even where not required by law. Based on these assessments, the facility must implement risk reduction measures, such as redesigning workstations to facilitate better posture, providing magnifying glasses for close-up work, or rotating workers among tasks to reduce repetitive motion.
Our audits revealed 24 facilities where ergonomic risk assessments had not been conducted. Apple required these facilities to have a qualified professional determine which manufacturing operations pose risks of repetitive motion and other ergonomic injuries and to take steps to reduce the associated risks.
Environmental permits and reporting
All Apple supplier facilities must be committed to reducing their environmental impact. Consistent with legal requirements, facilities must hold up-to-date permits for air emissions, wastewater discharge, hazardous waste disposal, X-ray equipment, and boundary noise. We also direct each facility to comply with applicable laws requiring an analysis of the environmental impact of their facilities and operations.
Apple found 44 facilities that lacked a complete environmental impact assessment. Some of these facilities were missing assessments in one or more areas of the Environmental Impact section of our Code or did not update their assessments after a process or equipment change. Apple required these facilities to conduct an environmental impact assessment of their entire facility and file it with the government for approval. We also found facilities that had not obtained legally required permits or failed to adhere to operating requirements of the permits. For example, 11 facilities did not have permits for air emissions, and four others did not meet the operating conditions specified in the permit for air emissions. We required these facilities to obtain permits and to communicate procedures for adhering to the conditions of the permits.”
Go get ‘em Apple! How would your workplace do if Apple’s auditors came to the door?!
The following link is the entire text of Apple’s Supplier Responsibility Progress Report. Click HERE.
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