Guidelines for Safety, Health and Environment

As a manufacturer of pharmaceutical actives and finished products, we are committed to observing and adhering to compliance regulations. We’ve taken many steps to ensure compliance across the organization, including the implementation of the following programs:

• Signing of the "Responsible Care Programs" in 1992
• 
Certification of Environmental Management System ISO 14001 in 1998
• 
SOCMA ChemStewards Program Qualification in 2006 

These various programs and systems are combined in a global SHE (Safety, Health Environment) policy and implemented as a model at all of Siegfried’s locations. The policy describes the safety, health and environmental philosophy of Siegfried with respect to its employees, outside companies, customers, shareholders, authorities and the public.

Our corporate philosophy is anchored in safety and environmental protection, along with quality and operating efficiency. Accident prevention is one of our top priorities. Whether on the job or during leisure time, we believe each accident can be avoided and the risk of every danger reduced.

Each employee takes ownership of Siegfried safety and environmental policy and are responsible for their own safety-conscious and environmentally-friendly behavior. Executives at all levels of the organization promote safety and environmental awareness and implementation measures.

Management at Siegfried Ltd determines the corporate SHE (Safety, Health, Environment) policy and ensures that it is understood and practiced at all levels. Safety inspections are part of planning processes and examined regularly. Management evaluates the safety and environmental protection system based on indicators and the SHE annual report, and likewise, defines all possible corrective measures.

We continually monitor our processes and activities for safety-relevant data. Any changes that could lead to a deviation from target conditions are quickly identified, which enables us to alleviate and solve problems immediately. General improvements are also documented and a SHE-sustainability report is prepared annually.

Efficiency and safe procedure are the two pillars of Siegfried’s chemical process engineering. To ensure strict compliance, Siegfried has its own internal safety laboratory in which normal scenarios as well as potential accident situations are simulated and evaluated. Any risks in processing systems and chemical materials are examined in detail and evaluated and summarized in a report that is examined regularly by the authorities.  

We want to create a culture that has no room for accidents. With this vision, Siegfried introduced its worldwide safety program several years ago. The safety awareness of each employee is further promoted with training programs, work-place inspections and campaigns. Accidents and unusual events are systematically examined, evaluated and, if necessary, corrective measures are implemented.

National and international authorities, insurances and customers regularly inspect the various locations. Additionally, each year, dozens of internal SHE audits and safety inspections are carried out. Inspectors and customers attest to Siegfried’s excellent and integrated risk management system.

For all of us, and therefore also for Siegfried, an intact environment is an urgent and imperative goal. Our efforts are thus directed at keeping our environmental impact to the absolute minimum. 

Through consistent waste separation, waste materials are disposed of in accordance with statutory requirements or transferred to a recycling center, and the share of existing substances that can be reused is continuously increasing. With process optimization and targeted waste water management, even during the developmental stage, highly-contaminated waste water streams are kept low. 

Our production plants and processes correspond to local laws and regulations, and also respect the environment. Siegfried Ltd is committed to: 

• Efficient energy saving programs
• The combustion of exhaust air and therefore a reduction in VOC emissions
• The reduction of CO₂ emissions by using alternate fuel sources
• The recovery of solvents while adhering to cGMP to the greatest extent possible
• Using alternative fuels (solvents) for energy production
• Separation of cooling water and return into the public water system
• Waste water purification
• Investments of CHF 100 Million in recent years
• A retention basin for polluted water

Here you can order or download our latest reports on safety, health and environment. 

Our modern safety and environmental laboratory, first set up in 1979, handles emission measurements, water/waste water analysis, soil studies, waste investigations and the determination of safety data of final and intermediate products. 

In the area of emission measurements, we focus on measuring volatile hydrocarbons (VOC) (FID online) but also examine furnaces as well.

A further important scope of activity is workplace monitoring for chemico-pharmaceutical manufacturing. These workplace hygiene controls are carried out with modern instruments and supervised by the company’s own occupational hygienist. 

In the area of waste water analysis, we are especially involved with the determination of biological degradation in aerobic systems. We also carry out individual compound analyses, e.g., using gas chromatography or ion exchange chromatography. 

From soil and excavated material, we investigate prior pollution in accordance with the relevant norms and guidelines. The determination of safety data includes a dynamic testing of possible dangers from pyrolysis, ignition, burning, dust explosion and the drop hammer test. Furthermore, the most modern of laboratory instruments are available for calorimetric experiments.