Workforce safety and health

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What is Workforce safety and health at AstraZeneca?

We work to provide a safe and healthy working environment, based on a culture of learning rather than blame. This includes the application of human and operational performance principles, including training for leaders and managers, supporting employee health through flexible ways of working, access to disease prevention, treatment and mental health services. 



Our approach

We foster an environment that supports physical and mental health to make people feel safe, energised, and inspired, which not only benefits our workforce and productivity, but is an investment in the communities in which we operate and the long-term health of economies. Our standards apply globally and are referenced in our Code of Ethics. We have a Global Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) Standard, supported by our OneSHE Framework and accompanying ‘SHE: Everybody’s Business’ training, which establishes minimum standards and is applicable to all employees and temporary staff across our sites and all business functions.

We work in a transparent and ethical manner to develop good relationships with regulators and ensure we contribute to local communities. We manage SHE risks, opportunities, and performance by using effective management systems utilising a 'Plan, Do, Check, Act' process to ensure continuous improvement. This requires engagement throughout the organisation, effective leadership, open communication, and a commitment from every employee to themselves, our colleagues, our workplace, our community, and our environment. Our AZ SHE System aligns SHE data management systems and SHE business processes across our company, in order to streamline our collection, storage, and reporting, providing a single source of SHE data across our enterprise. The AZ SHE System drives innovation in the management and reporting of SHE events and sustainability metrics, while helping to improve workforce safety and health.



Our stories


Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) in action
Drive Success driver safety campaign
Healthy Mind app supporting mental health