The commitments expressed in EDP's Safety Policy and Code of Ethics reinforce the need to promote a culture of good practice in the field of health and safety at work, in order to achieve the "zero accidents" objective in a sustained manner.
In pursuit of this objective, EDP has since 2003 adopted the requirement of a "Basic Safety Training" (FBS) for employees of outside companies performing construction, maintenance or demolition work on buildings or infrastructures in the generation, distribution of electricity or gas and in the operational activities of energy supply and services.
Since the adoption of the FBS, the accident rates, including workers from outside companies, have decreased steadily.
The BST is a training required by EDP that aims to ensure that workers have sufficient knowledge to recognize and protect themselves from the risks associated with the environment in which they will develop their activity.
This training, lasting at least 14 hours, includes subjects, such as rights and responsibilities in occupational safety and health, safe working practices, ergonomics and risk control in the workplace.
The BST is an additional requirement and does NOT replace the technical and safety training necessary for the correct execution of the work.
The BST is required for workers of service providers who perform construction, maintenance or demolition work on the infrastructure of power generation and distribution.
This requirement does not apply to:
- Holders of legally recognised training in occupational safety and health (e.g. HSW Technicians/Technicians, Safety Coordinators);
- Persons not directly involved in the work, even if they have to travel to the work due to audit, inspection, meeting, etc.
Training entities accredited by DGERT - Direcção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho (Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations) and with proven pedagogical capacity and experience in the area of safety at work may apply for recognition as BST accepted by EDP.
The application processes for recognition should be addressed to IEP - Instituto Eletrotécnico Português, with whom EDP has signed an agreement for the recognition of Basic Safety Training courses.
The evidence of Basic Safety Training is expressed by an individual certificate awarded to the worker after successful attendance at one of the aforementioned courses.