Continental Signs Luxembourg Declaration

(pressebox) Hannover, 03.05.2010 - The international automotive supplier Continental has signed the "Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion" in the European Union. "By signing the declaration, Continental is doing justice to its corporate responsibility with regards to promoting occupational health and safety and is also demonstrating that we share the principles contained in the declaration and implement occupational health and safety activities accordingly," said Heinz-Gerhard Wente, Executive Board member for human resources and director of labor relations at Continental, Monday in Hanover.

The Luxembourg Declaration was adopted by all members of the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) in 1997 to promote health and occupational safety in the companies of member states and to encourage member states to attach greater importance to workplace health promotion.

"Important principles that we are committing ourselves to by signing the Luxembourg Declaration have been a part of our "BASICS" - Continental's constitution - already for many years," noted Wente. For instance, the corporate principles and guidelines recognize the employee as a key success factor. Furthermore, a corporate culture and leadership principles, which include participation of the employees and encourage employees to take on responsibility, are pursued vigorously. "The signing of this declaration is thus simply a logical step," Wente stressed.

"By making this commitment, we are setting a positive impulse for workplace health promotion as a corporate strategy within Continental while at the same time reaffirming binding guidelines and a common understanding of health promotion in the corporation. This is a solid foundation for the future development of our programs for workplace health promotion based upon our 'safety first' culture," added Dr. Anja Rivera de la Cruz, head of corporatewide health protection at Continental.

Key principles of occupational safety and health in accordance with the Luxembourg Declaration include the comprehensiveness of the approach, the involvement of the employees and the development of a work organization which provides the employees with an appropriate balance between job demands on the one hand and their own skills on the other, as well as control over their own work and social support. By signing the declaration, Continental confirms that its occupational safety and health activities as well as prevention are based upon these key principles.