In 2019, ISS Switzerland established a dedicated Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department in French-speaking Switzerland. In this interview, Team Leader Julie Naville explains why workplace safety is such a crucial issue in that region.
Julie Naville, Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Manager
Julie Naville has been the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Manager for Western Switzerland since 2019, where she leads a team of six. She holds a degree in HSE engineering and has been with ISS Switzerland since 2017.
What are the responsibilities of the HSE team in Western Switzerland?
Our scope of work is divided into three areas: The first concerns guidelines and consulting. This means we advise our employees on the rules that apply to their work, always seeking solutions that can be efficiently implemented in practice and that put employees first. The second area is prevention and training: We offer in-house courses on topics such as handling chemicals, wearing the proper protective clothing, and safety rules for working at heights. The third aspect is inspection and monitoring: Here, our role is to verify compliance with applicable standards, as well as to identify at an early stage any critical situations that could lead to accidents.
Why does workplace safety play a particularly important role at ISS in Western Switzerland?
For one thing, many of ISS Switzerland’s global key accounts are based here, and they have high expectations regarding safety. In addition, various globally active industrial companies have their production facilities in Western Switzerland. And we have clients who carry out high-risk activities. Consequently, the work our employees perform - for example, in specialized cleaning or ventilation systems - involves greater safety risks in these projects. This ultimately prompted the creation of a dedicated HSE department in French-speaking Switzerland.
How are safety rules implemented for global assignments?
We define the set of rules for a project by taking into account the guidelines of ISS Switzerland, those of the ISS Group, and the client’s specifications. In the food sector, for example, there are industry-specific measures that must be observed. In addition, there are local legal regulations and standards. Ultimately, the role of the safety officer is to analyze all these regulations, identify which ones are the most restrictive, and then implement these measures at the client’s site. Many of our clients have their own HSE departments. We hold weekly or monthly meetings with them, and if there is any doubt or problem - whether on our part or the client’s - we always find a solution together.
What are some possible types of accidents?
One hazard is falls. This is because employees are often on the move while working. At production sites, accidents are more likely to occur in connection with maintenance tasks. We pay particular attention to near-misses. These are situations that could lead to an accident, caused, for example, by missing or incorrect markings or poor communication. We try to identify these hazards to prevent future accidents.
And what are some possible causes of workplace accidents?
Often, they stem from a lack of attention and concentration, as well as insufficient preparation for the task at hand. We want to raise our employees’ awareness of this even further so that it’s clear to everyone: When I’m at work, I’m 100% focused on the task at hand. I take the time to prepare for my task and check that I have the right tools and know the safety rules so that I can then truly focus on my work.
You have a degree in HSE Engineering. What does that mean for ISS?
While traditional safety officers are authorized to identify more general hazards and implement the appropriate preventive measures, my engineering degree enables me to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis - that is, identify various risks, prioritize them, and, based on that, draw up a comprehensive action plan to ultimately ensure employee safety. I specialize in mechanical risks, which makes sense, of course, since these play an important role in the manufacturing industry and we manage many production sites here in Western Switzerland for our major clients.
Do you benefit from the international network you’ve built through your global assignments?
Definitely! ISS has a global HSE Committee where we regularly exchange ideas, and that’s very valuable. Just recently, I reached out to colleagues in this network to find out how an ISS Group directive is being implemented in other countries. Within this group, people are happy to share ideas and best practices with one another.
ISS is a member of the Safety Charter
The Safety Charter was launched by Suva in collaboration with employer associations, planners, and labor unions. It is an alliance among all parties involved in the workplace aimed at improving workplace safety. The signatories of the Safety Charter are committed to ensuring that safety rules are followed in the workplace. The goal is to protect the lives and health of everyone involved. Approximately 18,000 companies have signed the Charter. As responsible companies, they therefore require all supervisors and employees to adhere to the following principle at all times and in all places: STOP IN CASE OF DANGER | ELIMINATE THE DANGER | CONTINUE WORKING