KT&G Obtains 'Safety and Health Management System' Certification

KT&G Sintanjin Factory exterior. (Photo by KT&G)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] KT&G announced on the 26th that it has obtained the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001) certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in recognition of its efforts to create a safe working environment at its major business sites.

This achievement is a result of KT&G's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management efforts. ISO 45001 is an international standard for occupational health and safety management adopted by ISO and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The certification covers five KT&G factories (Sintanjin, Gwangju, Yeongju, Gimcheon, Cheonan), where the company was recognized for establishing preventive measures against various potential risks at the workplaces, as well as for excellence in safety training and inspection activities.

To this end, KT&G holds quarterly Industrial Safety and Health Committee meetings with labor and management jointly to review important safety and health matters, actively reflecting workers' opinions in key policies. Additionally, to support the healthy work life of its members, the company has been regularly investigating musculoskeletal risk factors by process since 2004 and continuously improving the work environment.

A KT&G official stated, “With the acquisition of ISO 45001 certification, our workplaces have been verified to have clear goals and systems for safety-first management. We will promote systematic safety management aligned with global standards to practice labor respect that guarantees the right to work safely and strengthen ESG management.”

Meanwhile, KT&G is accelerating efforts to obtain domestic and international certifications to manage ESG ratings at a global top level. Prior to this certification, the company had acquired ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), certifying its excellent quality and environmental management systems. Going forward, KT&G plans to obtain additional certifications such as ISO 50001 (Energy Management System) to further enhance trust in the ESG field.