Protecting Our People

Safety is of the utmost importance at Glatfelter, and we continue to invest in training, analysis and continuous improvement in this regard. As one of our Core Values, safety is clearly critical to what we do. Our goal and safety mission is to be Injury Free Every Day!

The Glatfelter Global Safety Improvement Initiative, launched at the beginning of 2008, was created to transform Glatfelter’s Health & Safety programs into truly world-class Health and Safety Management Systems that facilitate continuous improvement. Our new Global Health and Safety Policy is fully aligned with Glatfelter core values and supports our vision to become the global supplier of choice in specialty papers and engineered products.

The third year of our Global Safety Improvement initiative in SPBU and CFBU reflected significant progress toward completing the gap closure plans developed in 2008. All mills and business units launched or continued numerous safety initiatives to maintain and improve facility conditions, our day-to-day safety awareness, and performance. As our newest addition, Advanced Airlaid Materials Business Unit (AMBU) is now part of our global safety improvement initiative and we expect significant improvement as Glatfelter standards become engraved in the business.

Composite Fibers Business Unit (CFBU) Safety Accomplishments

• Completed the installation and start-up of a new pulp feeding system that eliminated many safety hazards at Scaër.
• Implemented a mill-wide Safety 5S program to improve quality and safety performance at Gernsbach.
• Launched five safety projects developed from the safety benchmarking work completed in 2009.
• Implemented an OSHA near-miss alert system to share best practices across the business unit.
• Increased managerial and supervisory safety, housekeeping inspections and regular department meetings to maintain and improve safety performance at Lydney.
• Implemented more comprehensive auditing and inspection efforts.
• Completed a one-day safety course for all equipment operators at Caerphilly.
• Reviewed use of Personal Protective Equipment with personnel.
• Developed additional job hazard assessments.

Specialty Papers Business Unit (SPBU) Safety Accomplishments

• Implemented Safety Infusion Plans at the Chillicothe and Spring Grove mills to bring a renewed sense of personal responsibility and urgency to all employees.
• Implemented a significantly improved lock-out-tag-out system at Spring Grove including a procedures database.
• Increased supervisory engagement in day-to-day safety management.
• Increased employee engagement in all safety programs and initiatives.
• Implemented a plan to manage the H1N1 influenza threat.
• Developed additional job hazard analyses and reviewed the use of Personal Protective Equipment operation wide.
• Developed and implemented a successful program for addressing ergonomic issues at Chillicothe.
• Implemented more comprehensive auditing and inspection efforts.
• Distributed daily safety reminders operation-wide.

Advanced Airlaid Materials Business Unit (AMBU) Safety Accomplishments

In AMBU, Glatfelter held a safety summit in the Falkenhagen facility in November 2010 with AMBU leadership and the health and safety staffs from the Gatineau and Falkenhagen facilities. Each of the facilities completed a gap analysis of their current safety programs and compared those analyses with the Glatfelter Safety Guidelines adopted in 2008. We have now commenced roll out of a new safety initiative with consistent methodologies throughout the Company.

Leadership is Key

Going forward, the entire organization will continue to dedicate and focus ourselves to ensure our own personal safety as well as that of our co-workers. We must work to protect all Glatfelter PEOPLE by:

• Maintaining high safety awareness.
• Ensuring effective safety management.
• Promoting high-priority reactions to safety issues.
• Ensuring strong leadership and communication.
• Continuing to share best practices across our business units.
• Emphasizing the importance of safety education.

Total case incident rates (TCIR) at all Glatfelter facilities have decreased from year to year. While rigidly conforming to the OSHA recordkeeping requirements, Glatfelter is able to use this metric to measure performance, and performance improvement, versus others in the industry.