Reporting health and safety misconducts
The European Space Agency aims to establish a working environment in which its manpower resources and any other individual on site performing temporary assignments (i.e. visiting scientists, student internships etc…) recognise and assume appropriate responsibilities for promoting health and safety at work.
As directed in ESA Health and Safety Policy, ESA promotes the physical and psychological health of any personnel working on site. It is the responsibility of any personnel working on site to make decisions and act in a way that promotes health and safety in the context of ESA’s activities by advocating for safe and healthy activities and workplaces.
The reporting system below shall be applied within the framework of an ESA activity:
- to detect and report safety misconducts and breaches of respective laws and regulations,
- to improve law enforcement by establishing effective, confidential and secure reporting channels for health and safety misconducts
Mechanism for action
How to report a safety misconduct on site?
Breaches of safety rules and/or wilful misuse of safety equipment by Staff Members, contractors or other non-staff members may give rise to disciplinary action or other appropriate measures as detailed in ESA Health and Safety Policy.
To report any safety misconduct, here is the process to follow:
First: Make sure you are eligible to report:
- The reporting applies to manpower resources and any other individual on site
- The elements you wish to provide are eligible for reporting as defined above
For example, the following situations could be considered safety misconducts:
- Deliberately interfering with Health and Safety equipment or falsifying statutory Health and safety data
- You believe someone is covering up wrongdoing
Then: Report clearly the observed facts to the ESA Corporate Health and Safety Officer by sending an email to CorporateH&S@esa.int.