Page 31 - SAGT Sustainability Report 2022 2023
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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020/21  29

November 2019 with 20 more RTG engines             Meanwhile, as a part of an ongoing effort           harassment is one of SAGT’s key priorities. The
slated for conversion in 2021.                     to offset a portion of the Company’s carbon         Company has a zero-tolerance policy for any
                                                   footprint, SAGT also engages in and supports        form of sexual harassment in the workplace,
The Company’s other environmental impacts          reforestation programmes.                           with all allegations treated with utmost respect
include water consumption, and the generation                                                          and confidence. No person will be victimised for
of hazardous and non-hazardous waste as well       Labour Practices and Social Responsibility          lodging such a complaint.
as the segregation and treatment of effluents.
                                                   SAGT’s Social considerations relate to the          Moreover, all complaints are promptly
A range of policies has been established to        Company’s employees as well as the wider            investigated, and persons found to be guilty
address these environmental concerns:              community.                                          subject to disciplinary action, up to and including
                                                                                                       dismissal from employment. Further reinforcing
I.	 Energy Conservation - by adopting              Employees are at the heart of SAGT’s business.      its commitment to respect the globally accepted
     green practices to minimise damage to         Creating a conducive work environment where         human rights principles; the Company ensures
     the environment thereby lowering the          all employees can thrive is therefore a foremost    that no employee is made to work against
     Company’s overall carbon footprint.           priority for the Company. As an employer            his/her will, nor to engage bonded/forced
                                                   of choice SAGT is committed to creating a           labour, nor be subjected to corporal punishment
II.	 Optimise water usage - by reducing the use    safe and secure working environment that            or coercion of any kind in the workplace.
     and withdrawal of blue water sources as       provides opportunities for every employee to be
     well as minimising water discharged to the    productive, earn a fair income and develop their    SAGT places great importance on the health
     environment by recycling and reusing water    skill set for career advancement in their chosen    and safety of its employees, subcontractors,
     where possible. Furthermore, the Company      field, regardless of race, gender, nationality,     clients, customers, and agents, including the
     ensures that the quality of water discharges  religion, or any other status protected by law.     shipping lines that access the Company’s
     are in line with Sri Lankan legislation and                                                       terminal premises. Internally developed SOPs
     regulations.                                  SAGT’s recruitment and selection processes          and guidelines, procedures and precautionary
                                                   are fair and impartial and are conducted in a       measures that focus on proactive risk
III.	 Minimising waste - by ensuring that all      professional, timely and responsive manner in       management, continuous quality improvement
     regulatory requirements are adhered to, in    compliance with current employment legislation.     and contingency planning is in place to ensure
     terms of disposal of hazardous and non-                                                           safe operations at the terminal to reduce
     hazardous waste.                              The Company endeavours to continuously              avoidable injuries and minimize the risk of
                                                   develop these recruitment and selection             occupational illness. All Company employees
IV.	 Furthermore, SAGT strives to reduce the       practices to enable the incorporation of new        are required to adhere to these SOPs without
     volume of waste generated by promoting        ideas and approaches.                               exception, while any third parties visiting
     the 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).                                                       the terminal are expected to adhere to the
                                                   In adherence to its policy to “develop from         Company’s health and safety policy. As part of
The Company further aims to increase               within”, existing employees are given priority to   its ongoing efforts to improve safety systems,
incineration to reduce the quantum of waste        apply for new positions. In this regard, a mix of   SAGT intends to obtain the ISO 45000
sent to landfills. SAGT also tracks and monitors   formal and informal hiring practices are followed   certification in the coming year.
all compliance requirements as per Sri Lankan      to minimise the timeframe for integration and
legislation in relation to hazardous and non-      ease the transition for the employee. However,      Meanwhile SAGT delivers on its promise to
hazardous waste as well as those related           in the event a suitable candidate cannot be         serve the wider society through its community
to operational health and safety incidents.        found from within SAGT, the Company will seek       programmes that focus on promoting gender
The Company has invested in Secondary              to recruit externally.                              equality and women empowerment, including
Containment Tanks, Oil Separators, Booms and                                                           through partnerships with a variety of local and
Dispersants to minimise the risk of accidental     SAGT invests in training and development            international Non-Government Organisations
spillage, and put in place Standard Operating      programmes to give its employees the                (NGOs) and Government Organisations,
Procedures (SOP’s) to enable the immediate         opportunity to develop individual technical         sponsorships of academic projects and with the
rectification of identified leaks.                 skills and soft skills needed to achieve both       support of employee volunteering initiatives.
                                                   individual and organisational objectives. SAGT
To assist in addressing these environmental        is committed to foster an inclusive work
concerns in a more streamlined and systematic      environment where all employees are treated
manner, SAGT has begun working to benchmark        with dignity and respect, feel valued for the work
the best practices outlined under the ISO 14001    they do and experience a sense of belonging
Environmental Management System certification,     and self-worth. Providing a safe environment
with a target of completing the certification      free from discrimination and any form of
requirements in the coming year.
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