The Safety Index target since 2021 is 10 or lower. The total of 16 lost time accidents in 2022 (2021: 19) resulted in a 2022 Safety Index of 12 (2020: 15) for ROTO excluding Prestia. However, with 54 lost time accidents in 2022 at Prestia, the total Safety Index landed at 36, far above our target. Reaching a Safety Index of 10 or lower and ultimately 0 remains a major challenge that will require our continued attention and determination.

First steps for improvement have been taken by Prestia by issuing uniform safety equipment for all employees and starting with some basic and technical measures, such as installing safety lighting and pedestrian proximity detection on forklifts.

We also measure actual absenteeism based on the number of days lost as a result of accidents, which in 2022 was 405 (2021: 353) for ROTO excluding Prestia. Including Prestia, however, the number reached 3,532 days, and this equates to 13 FTEs not working for a full year. Unfortunately, at Rezinal, which reached a proud 1,000 consecutive days without lost time accidents last year, there was one severe accident. On the positive side, at Rotocoat Kampen more than two and half years were achieved without a lost time accident.