Safety & Health
SK Networks recognizes the safety and health of stakeholders including customers, citizens and its employees as core values of its corporate management, and endeavors to keep serious industrial accidents at zero by enhancing and enforcing ESG practices, implementing a safety and health management system, and fostering safety and health culture.
Safety & Health Management Policy
SK Networks has developed management policies regarding safety and health as statements of the management leadership’s commitment to safety and health and enforced those policies in a bid to create wholesome working conditions and prevent industrial accidents more effectively. In addition, major developments concerning safety and health are reported to the board of directors and safety and health performance outcomes are reflected on the CEO and enterprise KPIs to provide interfaces with compensation schemes.
SK Networks Co., Ltd. recognizes the safety and health of the stakeholders including customers, citizens, and employees* as critical values of corporate management and strives to achieve a zero-serious-accident objective by fostering ESG management practices and safety and health culture as stated by its management policy.
Mid-to-long-term Safety & Health Roadmap
We at SK Networks will ensure constant evolution and improvement of the safety and health management system and bolster up its effectiveness in consideration of worksite-specific characteristics and changing business landscape to create safe and healthy worksites of global top-tier level in each business domain and meet the goal of zero industrial accidents. By nurturing and embedding safety and health culture, we will empower all SK Networks people to exercise VWBE leadership in safety and health to roll out a business environment wherein SK Networks people and stakeholders can remain happy, healthy and safe.
Establishing a Self-regulated
Prevention System
- Strengthening employees participation and communication to prevent major disasters
- Conducting risk assessment with increased employees participation
- Establishing a health management system that accounts for the characteristics of employees
- Ex-post review of safety and health management systems (ISO 45001)
Fostering and Habituating the
VWBE Safety and Health Culture
- Creating a culture promoting safety and health and strengthening VWBE safety and health leadership
- Spreading the safety and health culture through participation and cooperation
- Expanding access to safety and health education and opportunities for participation
- Ex-post review of safety and health management systems (ISO 45001)
Creating a Healthy and
Happy Workplace
- Creating the highest level of organizational culture with safety internalized
- Strengthening employees' safety and health responsibilities and participation
- Going through audit for renewal of occupational health and safety management system (ISO 45001)
Identifying and mitigating safety and health risks
We are steadfast in our commitment to proactively mitigate serious accident risks and cultivate a safe and health work environment. This entails identifying safety hazards at worksites through risk assessment, developing and implementing recommended actions, and verifying their effectiveness. Since 2022, we have conducted risk assessments twice a year, ensuring that all 93 safety hazards identified in 2023 (with a risk level of 6 or higher) have been diligently addressed. Furthermore, SK Networks is taking proactive actions to eliminate hazards found from feedback contributed by workers via the health and safety council. Walkerhill has implemented an enterprise risk management (ERM) system to enhance its risk assessment scheme specific to the needs of its worksite.
* Risk = probability of occurrence X criticality of consequence (probability/criticality is estimated on a scale of 1 to 3 respectively)
Risk assessment process
Safety and health training
SK Networks provide health and safety training to SK Networks people, considering both legal requirements and the specific needs of each worksite. This training is designed to heighten their awareness of health and safety protocols as part of our organizational culture. Training programs are developed for various groups within SK Networks, including office staff and logistics center personnel, and are consistently delivered online to maximize effectiveness. Additionally, we arrange specialized training for health and safety managers through reputable external institutions.
| Classification | Training Description |
|---|---|
| Office workers | Fostering and improvement of occupational safety culture, work environment and health management for office workers, statutory safety and health training requirements, prevention of health conditions attributable to work stress, etc. |
| Logistics center | Work safety of forklifts, prevention of musculoskeletal diseases, understanding and utilization of material safety datasheets (MSDSs), safety protection gears set forth in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, etc. |
| Occupational training | Publicly accessible training courses in Korea Industrial Safety Psychology Counseling Association (KISCA), Korea Industrial Safety Association (KISA), Korean Industrial Health Association, etc. |
Collecting employee feedback
At SK Networks worksites across the nation, a monthly health and safety council is established and chaired by health and safety managers, with supplier involvement. The council serves as a platform to enhance health and safety protocols and gather feedback from workers regarding health and safety issues at each SK Networks worksite. Quarterly collaborative inspections are conducted to evaluate safety conditions and mitigate potential accidents onsite. Furthermore, risk assessments are also regularly conducted to solicit input from workers and suppliers on health and safety hazards, ensuring ongoing improvement. Walkerhill remains committed to identifying and mitigating health and safety risks, including the enhancement of road infrastructure to promote pedestrian safety.
Emergency response system and drills
Emergency response systems are implemented at worksites across the nation including Samil Building, SK Networks logistics centers, and Walkerhill. Regular emergency response drills for fire and natural disasters are conducted each year. Onsite facilities include Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and fire masks, with workers receiving regular training in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and Heimlich maneuver to address airway obstructions. Walkerhill provides safety incident experience training to its people to prepare them for a variety of contingencies. Additionally, Walkerhill is certified as a CPR training institution by the Korean Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (KACPR), offering systematic and professional first-aid response training on a regular basis.
Health Supports
As SK Networks considers health an essential condition for the happiness of its people, the company has a health support system in place for sustained, improved healthy life and has established a safe work environment. In particular, the company contributes to people’s healthy life focusing on adult disease prevention and mental health enhancement, considering job characteristics mostly composed of office jobs. In addition, key plans and issues concerning SK Networks people’s health are reported to management leadership to ensure their accountability to SK Networks people.
Intensive management areas considering job characteristics
-
Prevention of Adult Diseases1. Smoking rate : 19.5%(2021) → 10%(~2025)
- Programs in collaboration with Jongno-gu Public Health Center (2022~)
2. Minimizing obesity rate- BMI Assessment
- Diet and exercise coaching
- Health-friendly environment including cafeteria
3. Physical exercise ratio : 44.5%(2021) → 50%(~2025)- Fitness programs available (2022~)
- Health-friendly environment consisting of fitness center, healthy stairways, air-tossing app, etc.
- Various fitness programs available in ‘Wings of Happiness’ Training Institute app
4. Minimizing SK Networks people with high blood pressure or diabetes- Focused care for SK Networks people with high blood pressure or diabetes
-
Mental Health Program1. Raising mental health awareness program
- Various educational programs to improve accessibility to mental health care (2022~)
Ex) <Misunderstanding of psychological counseling >, <Interpretation of MBTI>, etc.
2. Accessibility enhancement programs- Introduction and development of ‘healing program(2021-)
Ex) Personality test and interpretation by organization - SK Networks people stress measurement program (2022~)
Ex) Job stress level and resilience check, special lecture on stress management - Meditation programs available in ‘Wings of Happiness’ Training Institute (2023~)
- Various educational programs to improve accessibility to mental health care (2022~)
Health check & follow-up management
SK Networks provides annual health check-ups to all SK Networks people, aiming for a completion of 100%*. All SK Networks people are encouraged to undergo these check-ups annually, with SK Networks covering the expenses for detailed health assessments. Individuals identified with health issues receive one-one-one health counseling with nurses, while those deemed to be at high risks and requiring focused care are managed accordingly.
* Available to legally qualified recipients (biennial checkups compulsory for office workers, based on their birth year), and exceptions are applied to those who are on a leave of absence, deceased, retired, pregnant, or under treatment and received health checkups independently.
SOKSOK Counseling Room : Promoting mental health
SK Networks is providing professional psychological consultation services as the company has set up the management of mental health, to which office workers are vulnerable, as a specialized area. Consultation services are offered to employees and their immediate family members and tackle a wide spectrum of areas, including not only work-related stress and private emotions but also family issues, child-rearing, and legal advice. Quarterly notices and promotions are also made so that many employees can take advantage of those services. Health counseling services are provided not only in person but also over the phone or via video conference to ensure better accessibility. All personal information collected during counseling is strictly kept confidential in accordance with relevant statutory provisions (Article 83 of the Framework Act on Workers’ Welfare). Services are further improved by collecting feedbacks with a target to achieve a satisfaction score of 4.5 points (out of 5) from those who have used the consultation services.
Infectious diseases control
SK Networks safeguards its employees against infectious diseases such as the flu by providing them with annual flu vaccinations, covered by the company. Additionally, personal disinfectant products are supplied to all employees.
COVID test kits, hand sanitizers, and face masks are disseminated to individuals with respiratory conditions, and company canteens exposed to significant health risks undergo monthly disinfection procedures.
Health promotion program
Since the end of August 2022, SK Networks has been running a health enhancement program for all members including contract workers. The program titled Workout in daily life is implemented so that members can develop a healthy workout routine and prevent adult diseases. SK Networks people who engage in physical activity for 30 minutes or longer per day receive rewards, with additional incentives for those who maintain this routine for 15 days or more each month to foster exercise habits. Furthermore, stress management lectures and stress level assessment programs are provided to support the mental health of SK Networks people. Furthermore, Stress diagnosis program is also available for assess mental health. A member’s mental condition is checked through a stress test conducted twice a year, and customized solutions are offered according to the results. Also, programs are recommended and offered for each organization’s members according to their stress source (such as job, relationship and organizational culture) and stress level.
* Performance of the Workout in daily life program(as of end of December 2023)
- Number of participants : 46 persons (ca. 11%)
- Number of participations : 1,833 cases
Health-friendly Environment
SK Networks provides support to employees to effectively manage their health by fostering a health-friendly environment. In-house nurses are stationed at the head office to provide medical products and services, and cafeteria nutritionists provide nutritionally balanced diets. Moreover, an indoor fitness facility is set up in an area of 496m2, housed with fitness equipment to assist employees' fitness management and in-house 'health-keepers(who provides professional massage services),' and massage chairs are also offered to prevent musculoskeletal disorders as a result of long hours of work. SK Networks people who opt for the healthy choice of using stairways are rewarded through the Hangarae app to promote the adoption of healthy daily routines. In addition to health checkup data and infectious disease data, various indexes related to fostering a health-friendly environment, including fitness use rate and canteen use rate, are also managed as valuable data.
Health Support System
SK Networks relieves the medical expense burden of the employees through an in-house medical fee support system. Up to KRW 5 million is annually provided to employees with permanent employment, their spouses, and children. All SK Networks employees are supported under the company's group personal accident insurance that covers major diseases such as cancer and strokes. In 2021, group dental insurance has also been offered to relieve people's financial burden of dental treatment.