The reporting of sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics allows for a holistic view of a company’s ideals and values. While climate action has gathered the most attention recently, a company’s focus on sustainability and/or ESG encompasses more than simply environmental topics. The three pillars of sustainability are people, planet, and profit. Together, they are essential to building and maintaining a sustainable business.
A truly sustainable business will account for and ensure the health and safety of its workers. This is integral to the social component of ESG and is included as a target of Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. An organization’s decision to prioritize the reduction of health, safety and environmental (HSE) risks reflects its culture and the importance it places on its employees and its communities. Being proactive about HSE risks and fostering a culture of safety are critical to preventing incidents before they occur. Each day, management decisions influence the well-being of both employees and the environment, and those actions or inactions can affect company’s public image.
Similar to other sustainability metrics, it is important to track and disclose HSE performance both for internal operations and throughout the value chain. This transparency incentivizes accountability among members of management and provides a clear picture of employee and contractor safety. While there are many different sustainability reporting frameworks and standards, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is one example that provides specific guidance on “Occupational Health & Safety” disclosure topics and metrics.
Examples of HSE topics and KPIs that can be included in sustainability or ESG reporting include:
- Rates of work-related incidents and near misses
- HSE policies and procedures
- Training requirements
- Description of safety and environmental management systems
Need more information?
It can be difficult to know where to start in this data collection, but ISN, a leader in contractor and supplier management and supporter of the GRI Initiative, can assist.
ISN’s global contractor management platform, ISNetworld, supports an extensive network of nearly 700 Hiring Clients that leverage the platform’s tools and data to capture and review HSE and sustainability information on more than 75,000 contractors and suppliers.
If you are a current ISN Hiring Client subscriber, contact your account representative about incorporating HSE or sustainability into your contractor and supplier information management program.
If you are a Hiring Client interested in learning more about ISN’s contractor management system to help you reach your sustainability reporting goals, contact ISN (email: info@isn.com) to request a demo of ISNetworld.