Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Our Approach to Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Overview
Our health, safety and wellbeing programs are designed to support physical safety, mental wellbeing and inclusion of Ribbon’s workforce whether they are working at Ribbon facilities, customer locations, from home, or travelling on company business. We believe that all accidents are preventable, and that with the right culture, training, and tools, we can achieve an injury free workplace. Our strong record of positive health and safety performance helps build trust in our business while demonstrating our commitment to deliver on one of our core responsibilities to our employees and their families.
In this Approach to Health, Safety and Wellbeing, we focus on our own employees and independent contractors working in our business. We also expect suppliers, contract manufacturers, workforce providers and third-party subcontractors supporting Ribbon customers to maintain appropriate health and safety standards in their operations. For more details, see Our Supplier Code of Conduct.
Our Approach
Ribbon aims to maintain a workplace that is safe from hazards and enables employees to conduct their work without fear of injury or illness. We ensure our workplaces comply with applicable safety regulations wherever we work and promote a culture of safe working and collaboration to eliminate work hazards. We reinforce safety awareness and safety risk management through regular training at all our operating locations.
Our Approach to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing in our workforce encompasses the following elements:
- Compliance: We comply with all laws and regulations relating to occupational health and safety in every country in which we operate. We benefit from the use of third-party protocols to ensure we are aware of our commitments at the national level.
- Culture: Beyond compliance, we have created a culture of safe working practices in which everyone understands that safety is a priority and is confident to immediately cease any work operation or activity in the event of a suspected safety hazard. Our safety culture is reinforced at all levels of the organization through training, discussion and learning sessions from safety incidents, signage, updates, and other practices at each site. Our issue tracking allows every employee and contractor to register a concern or observation and is issued with a unique tracking ID for prompt follow up. We encourage proactive reporting of hazards, near misses, wellbeing concerns, and opportunities for improvement, recognizing that safety leadership is a shared responsibility.
- Safe Work Environment: Ribbon is committed to maintaining a safe work environment which promotes a speak-up culture, where concerns can be raised, issues reported and ideas contributed openly, respectfully and without fear of retaliation.
- Mental Wellbeing: Ribbon is committed to supporting the mental wellbeing of our workforce. Mental wellbeing is an individual's overall psychological, emotional and social health, enabling them to experience a sense of purpose and fulfilment, maintain resilience, and function effectively.
- Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) Management System: Ribbon operations are aligned with our ISO 45001:2018: Safety Management System that applies across our operations. Sites are audited regularly in line with the ISO standard at least every three years. Work related hazards are identified through workplace risk assessments, inspections and safety observations as defined in our OHS Management System. Individual Safety Committees operate at Ribbon sites and include representation from management and employees.
- Contractors: We are committed to protecting the safety of contractors working at our sites and provide contractors with detailed safety information and training before they commence activities. We provide a safety handbook to contractors working onsite prior to their starting work. Our contractual arrangements with contractors include our requirements to uphold safety standards and procedures. Monitoring of contractor safety performance takes place as part of our employee safety monitoring systems. Prior to commencing work at Ribbon facilities, contractors are provided with relevant safety information and site requirements. Contractor activities may also be reviewed through facility safety assessments and work oversight processes to help ensure identified risks are appropriately controlled.
- Safety Training: We provide OHS training online or in classroom format, where relevant, for all new employees and annual safety refreshers for all employees. For employees in specific roles, such as in our laboratories, targeted safety training is delivered, covering specific risks associated with identified roles. We prohibit any employees to commence or continue work if they have not completed required safety training.
- Safety Monitoring and Reporting: We maintain detailed safety monitoring and reporting systems at each site to keep track of all safety incidents, including near misses. Each site reports on its performance monthly and the Executive Management Team reviews safety performance to identify global risks and implement preventive actions.
- Emergency Preparedness: We maintain business continuity and emergency preparedness programs covering all our sites and employees as part of our ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management System. Employees are trained in business continuity procedures and participate in quarterly emergency drills and exercises at selected sites each year. For more information, see our Business Continuity Policy.
- Wellbeing Programs: Ribbon promotes health and wellness for all those in the Ribbon family and aims to raise awareness among employees through our annual Wellness Month and other activities throughout the year. We provide health and wellness-related benefits in different countries in line with local market norms, such as medical insurance, dental insurance and more for employees and in many cases, with extended coverage for employee families. We also focus on aspects of wellbeing such as mental health and deliver educational programs to raise awareness of mental health issues and support employees in seeking help.
Supporting Global Sustainable Development
Our Approach to Health, Safety and Wellbeing directly supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
 | SDG 3 which aspires to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
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 | SDG 8 which calls for the promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
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Governance
Ribbon’s Vice President for Global Real Estate is accountable for Health and Safety policies and programs. This position reports to Ribbon’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer who is a member of Ribbon’s Executive Management Team. Facilities Managers around the company are accountable for implementing safety policies, procedures, and training for all employees. Leaders at all levels are trained to incorporate health, safety, and wellbeing considerations into operational planning, workforce decisions, and business activities.
Ribbon’s Senior Vice President (SVP) for Human Resources is accountable for Wellbeing policies and programs. The SVP is a member of Ribbon’s Executive Management Team, and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. Human Resources Managers partner with business leaders around the company to deliver wellbeing programs.
Disclosure
Ribbon strives for continuous improvement in health, safety and wellbeing performance through employee engagement, management review, regular assessment of risks, and alignment with evolving industry best practices and regulations. We report transparently to our stakeholders on our health, safety and wellbeing progress and performance in our annual Sustainability Report, available on our website. Additionally, our Annual Report on form 10-K includes highlights of our human capital strategy and performance, including health and safety, each year.
See also our Approach to Employment.
Version 3: August 2026
