Prevention and safety
We believe that prevention is the primary foundation of everyone's safety
We believe that excellence in safety is fundamental to ensuring the well-being of people and the efficiency of EDP's operations. Through responsible management, rigorous data analysis, continuous training, and assurances with our suppliers, we build a safer environment prepared to face the energy challenges of the future.
It manifests itself in all decisions: in planning, construction, operation and maintenance, personnel management, supplies, commercial activities, relationships with clients, relationships with suppliers and with the general public.
To better manage the strategic objectives of the Occupational Health and Safety Policy, EDP has adopted a Safety Management System based on the OHSAS 18001 standard model, in line with the ILO-OSH 2001 recommendation of the International Labour Organization, reinforcing the principle that Occupational Health and Safety issues are managed according to common and transversal criteria within the EDP Group's companies.
Annual report on prevention and security 2023
Work accident
Unexpected occurrence during work hours that causes physical or mental harm resulting in an absence longer than one day of work or death. Cases such as intoxication and those resulting from acts caused by third parties, even if outside the company's premises, are included when they occur during work hours.
In-itinere accident
Any accident occurring during the normal journey to and from home, the workplace, and the usual place for meals. As with work-related accidents, all cases that result in an absence longer than one day of work or death are considered. In-itinere accident statistics should be presented separately from work accident statistics.
Sum of the working hours of active workers, including regular and overtime hours, during the considered period. Includes time spent on Professional Training and Occupational Health.
The total lost time corresponds to the sum of the number of days of absence (civil) resulting from work accidents occurring in the reference period, plus the number of lost days from accidents of the previous period, which extended into the reference period without interruption. Lost time is measured from the day following the day of the accident, until the day preceding the return to work. Temporary absences of less than a day for medical treatment are not considered as lost time.
Work accident that resulted in a serious injury from which the worker does not recover (e.g.: amputation), or may not fully recover, or from which recovery in less than 6 months is not expected.
Accidents are considered "Recordable" when they fall into one of the following categories:
- Fatal;
- With ITA (Temporary Absolute Incapacity) leave;
- With ITP (Temporary Partial Incapacity) or IPP (Permanent Partial Incapacity);
- No leave, with treatment by prescription;
- No leave, with stitching, by sutures or staples;
- No leave, resulting in vaccination;
- No leave, with plaster and/or other rigid devices for immobilization;
- No leave, resulting in physiotherapy;
- No leave, causing momentary loss of consciousness.
The Near-Miss is an incident that did not cause physical or health damage to people, or harm to the environment. An event where an accident could have occurred if circumstances had been slightly different or if the activity had not been suspended.
Expresses a situation with potential to cause injuries, or damage to equipment and facilities, or other property losses.
Frequency Index (Tf)
Number of fatal and non-fatal work accidents with leave (ITA), per million hours worked, in the reference period.
Severity Index (Tg)
Number of lost days resulting from a work accident with leave (ITA), per million hours worked, in the reference period.
Severe Frequency Index
Number of work accidents with severe consequences, per million hours worked, in the reference period.
Recordable Frequency Index
Number of "recordable" work accidents, per million hours worked, in the reference period.
Fatal Frequency Index
Number of fatal work accidents, per million hours worked, in the reference period.
EDP has adopted, since 2003, the requirement of a "Basic Safety Training" (BST) for workers from external companies performing construction, maintenance, or demolition work in buildings or infrastructures for the production, distribution of electricity or gas, and in operational activities of energy marketing and services. Since the adoption of the BST, accident rates, including workers from external companies, have decreased steadily.
What is Basic Safety Training?
BST is training required by EDP aimed at ensuring workers have sufficient knowledge to recognize and protect themselves from the risks associated with the environment where they will develop their activity.
This training, with a minimum duration of 14 hours, includes topics such as rights and responsibilities in occupational safety and health, safe work practices, ergonomics and risk control in the workplace.
BST constitutes an additional requirement and does NOT replace the technical and safety training necessary for the correct execution of the work.
Who is required to have Basic Safety Training?
BST is required for service provider workers who carry out construction, maintenance or demolition work on the infrastructure for the production and distribution of electrical energy.
This requirement does not apply to:
- Holders of legally recognized curriculum training in occupational safety and health (for example SHT Technicians / Senior Technicians, Safety Coordinators).
- People who do not intervene directly in the work, even if they have to travel to it for audit, inspection, meeting, etc.
How to recognize a Basic Safety Training course?
Entities with accreditation from DGERT – Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations and proven pedagogical capacity and experience in occupational safety can apply for recognition accepted by EDP for BST.
Application processes for recognition should be directed to IEP – Portuguese Electrotechnical Institute, with whom EDP has signed an agreement for the recognition of Basic Safety Training courses.
Learn more on the Portuguese Electrotechnical Institute website
Recognized Entities List
The Safety Regulations (SR) for the Execution of Works for EDP Group Companies, reinforcing the requirements established in the Specifications, aim to establish the safety prescriptions to be guaranteed by the Contractor and provide information so that construction, maintenance, or demolition works or services in electricity production and distribution infrastructures or buildings are executed safely.
The Safety Regulations (SR) for the Provision of Administrative Services and Logistic Support for EDP, establish a set of safety prescriptions for the provision of regular administrative and logistic support services for EDP Group companies.
Compliance with the safety rules established in these Safety Procedures is one of the conditions for fulfilling the service provision contract and the works contract. They apply to Contractors and their respective subcontractors, with the Contractor fully responsible before EDP for their observance.