Safety in the workplace has been a recurring challenge in the life of so many business organisations, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, but Expand Global Industries Limited (EGIL), a subsidiary of Henkel in Nigeria believes that leveraging on the health and safety of its workers is central to the sustainability of its business.
The commitment to safety, which is an integral part of the company’s corporate culture for decades, forms the base of its various success stories and engagement with its workers who are passionate about growing the business successfully, responsibly, and safely.
Looking from afar, one may not get to comprehend the seriousness it believes in safeguarding the health and safety of staff and third-party employees, but a visit to the Ibadan site reveals that all the workers there are made to undergo comprehensive Safety Health Environment and Quality (SHEQ) training before starting their work, with corporate procedures in place to regulate the process.
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Founded in 1876, Henkel, whose purpose is to create sustainable value – for its customers, consumers, people, and the wider society, looks back on its more than 140 years of success attributed to the safety procedure it has in place and at the end of 2019, 52,450 employees were working for Henkel worldwide.
In Nigeria, Henkel through EGIL has continuously invested in the improvement of the production tools and the Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) standards in its Ibadan site through the management, design, and operation of its facilities to maximize safety
Regular and comprehensive training courses are held multiple times a year at all sites to ensure employees perform their duties safely and responsibly and they are provided with all the necessary personal protective equipment as they operate under close supervision.
A part of the WaW and Nittol range of detergents and bar soaps manufacturers’ long-term commitment to social progress is the health and preventive care programmes applied to safeguard against workplace and general health risks, and a comprehensive package provided to its employees.
At its Ibadan plant, the company has established a fully equipped medical clinic, manned by a qualified doctor and trained nurses, that is accessible to all staff on-site, including third-party workers with annual medical check-ups provided.
From findings and observations, EGIL is committed to complying with the various Nigerian Labour and Workplace Health and Safety laws by providing a safe working environment for its employees, third-party workers, and contractors.
Aside from safety, Henkel and its subsidiaries promote economic and social development through several roles as a local employer, purchaser, and investor. In Nigeria, through shared value, it fosters the responsible economic activity of both its employees and customers.
Henkel acquired Expand Global Industries Limited (EGIL) in 2016 and since then, it has continuously invested in the improvement of the production tools and the SHE standards in its Ibadan site, thus, contributing to satisfy the local demand for products that combine high performance, reliability, and quality.
Through an extensive local distributor network, findings reveal that EGIL provides thousands of jobs across the country with an estimated contribution of around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria. It generates direct employment for more than 1,000 people in the Ibadan plant.
Additionally, a growing industrial ecosystem comprising of local toll manufacturers and suppliers supports the daily operations such as raw material sourcing, packaging, transportation, trade marketing, and others, thus, contributing to the economy locally while satisfying the domestic demand for products.
EGIL aims to be a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy while supporting its driving forces and empowering talents with the ultimate ambition being to produce for Nigerians by Nigerians. Through training opportunities such as ITI schemes and Henkel’s Internship Programme, the company aims to foster the next generation of youths in the industry and encourage them to achieve their career aspirations. There are also regular plant tours of its Ibadan plant for local schools and colleges.
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Beyond its business disposition, it has a long-term commitment to social involvement as corporate citizenship is an integral part of its culture. It has undertaken some social causes for the benefit of the citizenry. Some of the most recent initiatives in Nigeria include the donation of educational items to the African Girls Empowerment school in Ibadan, Nigeria, an educational facility designed to support children with special needs.
EGIL, through Henkel’s Global Solidarity Programme also supported local communities affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic by donating to front-liners in Lagos state to help them mitigate the challenges of the pandemic and alleviating the risks associated with their exposure to patients undergoing treatment.
It donated WAW soap bars to the Oyo state government to help the state-run isolation and treatment centres and also made donations to the Oyo state government to run an awareness campaign about the importance of social distancing and other COVID-19 preventative measures.
