10. Cardinal rules of Cosentino

The 5 Cardinal rules of Cosentino

The Cardinal Rules of Cosentino are meant to save lives. If strictly applied, these rules will help reduce serious or potentially serious accidents to our workers. They are based on a study of incidents occurring in recent years and focused on the conducts that each worker must comply with.

  1. The intervention procedures for work teams should be followed at all times.
  2. Regulation on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should comply with standards at all times.
  3. The procedures on handling and storage of slabs must be followed at all times.
  4. The procedures on the handling of the forklift trucks must be followed at all times.
  5. All injuries and incidents must be reported.

Obligations

The chain of command is responsible for communicating safety standards, complying with them and enforcing them at all times.

Each worker (company and external) is required to comply with all safety standards and, when it is a Cardinal Rule, increase the alert status and the precautions to be taken.

Disciplinary process

The disciplinary process starts with providing the worker with training and coaching. After completing this phase, if the worker has already been warned
of a breach, punishment for the next breach of a Cardinal Rule will be imposed on the worker failing to comply and on that worker’s supervisor for tolerating the breach in their area of responsibility (see the disciplinary process diagram below).

We thus consider the punishment is part of the disciplinary process, and that it is helpful for any person who fails to comply with the safety guidelines.

The breach of a Cardinal Rule, or tolerance of that breach by the supervisor will be considered SERIOUS or a VERY SERIOUS OFFENCE and the company will be entitled to take disciplinary action against the worker and, as applicable, their supervisor, in accordance with the present procedure:

  • First sanction: written warning of the event + selfevaluation by the worker committing the breach. In the self-evaluation process, the worker committing the breach will explain to their supervisor whether they have understood the usefulness and how it can help them set a good example for themselves and for their colleagues.
  • Second sanction: The worker committing the breach will be suspended without pay for 5 days.
  • Third sanction: Dismissal

The repetition of a serious offence, or not wanting to attend training sessions is also considered a serious offence and it will be sanctioned using the same procedure.

The disciplinary process is an essential and intrinsic responsibility of the chain of command that cannot be delegated. In addition, the supervisor is the person who knows the most about the situation and can take the appropriate actions at the proper level. The supervisor will put the sanction into effect, as applicable, using the form provided by HR and ask the sanctioned worker to sign it or if this is not possible, ask 2 witnesses to sign it.

Clarifications regarding the Cardinal Rules

Rule 1: The intervention procedures for work teams should be followed at all times.

  • Putting up the Danger sign before each intervention on equipment.
  • Reinstalling the protections and safety devices before starting up the equipment after an intervention.
  • It is strictly forbidden to remove or make bridge connections to any interlocking or safety device.

Rule 2: Regulation on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should comply with standards at all times.

  • All workers must wear masks in the plants, except for areas with no risk of exposure to chemical pollutants (duct, organic vapours, etc.) that are specially conditioned.
  • Permanent use of high visibility clothing in plants and roads inside the complex.
  • It is mandatory to use safety harnesses for work at a height of more than 1.8 metres.

Rule 3: The procedures on handling and storage of slabs must be followed at all times.

  • It is mandatory to have special training (qualification) to operate a crane, and worker may operate a crane without this training.
  • Check the hoisting elements using a daily check-list; in the event of an anomaly, the crane must not be used.
  • Slabs must be stored with the slope facing the inside of the rack.
  • In all slab storage operations, the 2 safety bars must be permanently in place and as close as possible to the slab package.
  • Before removing slabs or positioning them, the 2 safety bars must be placed on the rack (in the warehouse or in the truck) and it must be as close as possible to the package, if the operating conditions so allow.
  • Before handling the slabs, check for possible fissures or faults, particularly marble or granite slabs, as they could easily break. Remove all faulty slabs with the utmost care.
  • The slabs can rest on the 2 safety bars (with a maximum of 5 slabs in the “standard” size and 3 in the “jumbo” size, or granite slabs) only during the time required for the operation (for a very short time).
  • During handling operations, no-one must stand beneath a suspended load or in the danger zone.
  • No slabs will be loaded/unloading during visits to the warehouse by clients. If it should be necessary to move slabs, visitors will remain at a distance of more than 15 metres from the load.
  • Always respect the permitted maximum loads.
  • When handling slabs with forklifts fitted with telescopic forks and crocodile clamps, operators will always face the clamp and never have their backs to it.
  • Always check the slings and do not use them if their level of wear is unacceptable.
  • It is forbidden to climb onto the rack structure.

Rule 4: The procedures on the handling of the forklift trucks must be followed at all times.

  • It is mandatory to have special training (qualification), and without this training, workers are not permitted to operate the trucks.
  • Check the safety elements using a daily check-list; in the event of an anomaly, the forklift truck must not be used.
  • Safety belts must be worn.
  • Do not load the forklift in excess of what is stipulated by the constructor.
  • Maximum of 5 km/h in indoor areas.
  • Maintain the safety distance with respect to workers in the vicinity (driver’s responsibility).
  • It is absolutely forbidden to transport people on the forklift.
  • When entering and exiting the warehouse or doors inside the facility, drivers must give way before reaching the border area. They must pass through the central area and be positioned perpendicular to the entrance/exit, turning, if necessary.

Rule 5: All injuries and incidents must be reported.

  • All injuries and incidents must be reported and investigated in a proactive manner by the chain of command, to ensure that preventive actions/programmes can be put into operation immediately, to prevent them from being repeated.