PPE & workwear
PPE must be worn beyond the yellow line, by everyone: managers, staff, casual workers, contractors and visitors.
Safety boots, reflective shirts, dustcoats, helmets, ear muffs, gloves.
The essentials on the production floor
- Safety boots and a reflective shirt at all times.
- Ear muffs near high-speed machines and when driving a forklift.
- Any extra PPE shown on the sign for your area or task.
Every time
- Check your PPE for cracks, tears or wear before you put it on.
- Keep it clean and return shared items to this bay after your shift.
- Report damaged or missing items to your supervisor straight away.
- Sign the PPE issuance record whenever you collect new PPE. PPE is issued free of charge.
Kept at this bay
- PPE issuance record
- Min / max stock
Hearing & respiratory
Protect your ears and lungs wherever the signs say so.
Ear muffs, earplugs, dust masks, half-mask respirators, face shields.
Hearing
- Wear ear muffs in every area marked with the ear sign, including high-speed machine areas.
- Forklift operators wear ear muffs as part of full PPE.
- Roll earplugs thin and insert fully; muffs must seal around the ear.
- Keep muffs clean and store them off the floor.
Breathing
- Wear a dust mask where paper dust is heavy, and a respirator in the ink and chemical mixing area.
- Do a seal check every time you put a respirator on.
- Replace filters on schedule, or sooner if breathing gets harder or you smell the chemical.
Kept at this bay
- PPE issuance record
- Min / max stock
Chemical safety
Know what you are handling before you open it. This covers inks, solvents, glues and cleaning agents.
Chemical gloves, goggles, aprons, face shields, safety data sheets.
Every time
- Read the label and the safety data sheet (SDS) first.
- Wear the PPE the SDS lists for that chemical.
- No eating or drinking near machines or in the ink and chemical mixing area.
- Never pour chemicals into unlabelled or food and drink containers.
- Keep containers closed and on drip trays when not in use.
- Store flammable liquids and fuel in their own marked area, away from other chemicals and stock.
- Every chemical on site must be listed in the hazardous chemical inventory.
Kept at this bay
- SDS / MSDS file
- Hazardous chemical inventory
- Issue register
- Min / max stock
Spill response
If something spills, act in this order.
Spill kit, absorbent socks, pads, granules, disposal bags.
What to do
- Make the area safe and warn people nearby. Put on gloves and goggles.
- Contain it: ring the spill with absorbent socks so it cannot spread or reach a drain.
- Clean up with pads or granules, working from the edge inwards.
- Bag used absorbents and put them in the red hazardous waste bin.
- Record the spill in the spill register and tell your supervisor, so the kit is restocked.
Always
- Keep the drainage area near the baling room dry. Nothing goes into the drains.
- Clean ink stains as they happen, so new spills are easy to spot.
Kept at this bay
- Spill register
- Issue register
- Min / max stock
Fire & emergency
If you discover a fire, act in this order.
Fire extinguishers, fire blanket, hose reel, alarm points, evacuation plan.
What to do
- Raise the alarm at the nearest alarm point and shout “Fire”.
- Call the site emergency line, listed in the emergency section.
- Use an extinguisher only if the fire is small and your exit is clear. Check its label matches the fire type, then pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze, sweep.
- If in doubt, get out. Go to the assembly point for the roll call and do not go back in.
Always
- Keep fire exits, extinguishers and walkways clear. Nothing stacked in front of them.
- Know where the evacuation plan is posted in your area.
- Take part in every emergency drill.
- Report any extinguisher that is used, missing or out of date.
Kept at this bay
- Inspection log
- Maintenance log
- Emergency drill reports
- Roll call sheet
First aid & wellbeing
If someone is hurt, act in this order.
First aid boxes, eyewash station, first aiders list.
What to do
- Make sure the area is safe for you and the injured person.
- Call a trained first aider. Names are on the list at this bay.
- Use the first aid box for minor injuries only. For anything serious, call the emergency number.
- Chemical in the eye: hold the eye open under the eyewash for at least 15 minutes.
- Write it in the incident register.
Record every incident, not just injuries. Near misses, damage and unsafe conditions all go in the incident register. That is how we stop the next one.
Your wellbeing
- Follow the break schedule posted on the wall, and take your breaks.
- Drink clean water regularly, especially in hot areas.
- Tell your supervisor if you feel unwell or too tired to work safely.
Kept at this bay
- First aiders list
- First aid box checklist
- Incident register
Environment & waste
Separate waste where it is made. We follow the integrated waste management plan.
Which bin
- Green: general waste.
- Blue: recyclables, such as clean paper, card, plastic and cans.
- Red: hazardous waste, such as used absorbents, ink tins, chemical containers and oily rags.
Paper waste and baling
- Put paper offcuts and trimmings in the baling area, not the general bin.
- Keep the baling area swept. Loose bale fragments are a slip and fire risk.
- Bales are collected on the posted baler collection schedule.
Every day
- Keep your work area clean and free of offcuts.
- Never pour anything down drains.
- Waste leaves site only with an approved collector, recorded in the waste disposal log.
Kept at this bay
- Integrated waste management plan
- Waste disposal log
- Baler collection schedule
- Waste contracts
Records & documents
The registers, checklists and plans that make up our ESMS. Ask the EHS officer to view or update a file.
Policies and plans
- EHS policy
- ESMS manual
- Emergency preparedness & response plan
- Integrated waste management plan
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- ESAP tracker
Safe working procedures
- Forklift operations
- Manual pallet jack
- Lockout / tagout
- Stacking & storage
- PPE
Checklists
- First aid box
- Forklift
- Stacking, racking & storage
- Site inspections & audits
Registers and records
- Incident register & reports
- Spill register
- Lockout / tagout register
- PPE issuance record
- Hazardous chemical inventory
- Emergency drill reports
- Roll call sheets
- Visitor induction forms
- Grievance register
- Training records
- Energy, water & fuel tracker
Visitor induction
Welcome to the site. Before you go further:
- Sign in at the gate and complete the visitor induction form with your host.
- Collect a reflective vest, a visitor badge and a gate pass.
- Collect any other PPE needed for the areas you will visit.
- On your way out, return the badge, the reflective vest and the gate pass at the gate.
Site rules
- Stay with your host at all times.
- Keep to marked walkways. Forklifts have right of way.
- Keep clear of high-speed machine areas unless your host takes you there.
- No eating or drinking near machines or chemical areas. No smoking except in the designated area.
- Ask before taking photos.
- If the alarm sounds, follow your host to the assembly point for the roll call.
Kept at this bay
- Visitor induction forms
- Site information
- Safety leaflets
- Site rules
Machines & lockout
Machines are the biggest hazard on our floor. Treat every machine as live.
Every time
- Only operate machines you have been trained and authorised to use.
- Never run a machine with a guard or cover removed. Pulleys, belts and moving parts must be covered.
- Wear ear muffs in high-speed machine areas. Tie back long hair and keep loose clothing away.
- No eating or drinking at machines.
Before cleaning, clearing a jam or repairs: lock out, tag out
- Switch off and isolate the power.
- Fit your lock and tag to the isolation point.
- Try to start the machine to prove it is dead.
- Do the work. Only the person whose lock it is may remove it.
- Record it in the lockout / tagout register.
Forklifts & pallet jacks
Forklifts have right of way. Pedestrians stay in marked walkways.
Forklift operators
- Only trained, authorised operators may drive.
- Complete the forklift checklist before your shift. Report faulty lights, horn, siren or brakes, and do not drive until fixed.
- Wear full PPE, including ear muffs.
- Never carry passengers or lift people on the forks.
- Travel with forks low, slow down at corners and sound the horn at blind spots.
Manual pallet jacks
- Push, don’t pull, where you can. Keep feet clear of the wheels.
- Don’t overload. Get help on slopes or with tall, unstable loads.
Stacking & storage
Stable stacks keep people, stock and the building safe.
- Stack on sound pallets, heaviest at the bottom, and keep stacks straight.
- Leave at least 3 feet (about 1 metre) between the top of any stack and the lights or sprinklers.
- Never block fire exits, extinguishers, electrical panels or walkways.
- Don’t climb racking. Use the right equipment.
- Report damaged racking or leaning stacks straight away.
- Complete the stacking, racking and storage checklist as scheduled.
Ergonomics & breaks
Look after your body over a long shift.
- Where you work at one station for long periods, such as spring files, envelopes or stacking books, use a proper seat, not a drum or crate. Ask your supervisor if you don’t have one.
- Lift with your legs, keep the load close and don’t twist. Share heavy loads.
- Take the breaks on the posted break schedule.
- Tell your supervisor about any pain or strain early, before it becomes an injury.
Our ESG commitments
ESG means environmental, social and governance. It is how we make sure our business is good for our people, our neighbours and the planet.
How we manage it
Our Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS) sets out how we manage risks at work. It was built with our own teams at their workstations, following an independent site assessment and Environmental & Social Action Plan (ESAP) in November 2024. It includes:
- Our EHS policy.
- Trained, competent people with clear EHS responsibilities.
- Safe working procedures, checklists and management plans.
- An emergency preparedness and response plan.
- A stakeholder engagement plan and a grievance mechanism.
- Regular inspections, audits and reviews.
Who oversees it
The EHS Committee, with senior management, reviews performance, the incident and grievance registers, and audit findings, and makes sure actions are closed out.
The standards we follow
- Ugandan law, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Employment Act and the National Environment Act, with oversight from NEMA.
- The IFC Performance Standards on environmental and social sustainability, which our investors require.
We work on continuous improvement: inspect, fix, record, review, repeat.
Back to all sectionsEnergy, water & air
We record electricity, water and fuel use every month and compare it with production, so we can spot waste and cut costs and emissions.
Energy
- Switch off machines, lights, fans and compressors when not in use.
- Report compressed air leaks and machines left idling.
- Report machines running rough or hot. Preventive maintenance keeps them efficient.
Water
- Close taps and hoses fully. Report leaks the same day.
- Use a broom before a hose when cleaning floors.
Fuel, air and noise
- Record generator and vehicle fuel use in the tracker.
- Keep dust extraction running and filters clean. Report visible dust or smoke.
- No open burning of waste on site, ever.
Your rights at work
Everyone who works here, whether employee, casual or contractor, has these rights.
- A written contract or terms, in a language you understand.
- Pay on time, with a payslip that shows how it was worked out, and overtime paid as agreed.
- Working hours and rest days in line with the law.
- Free PPE and training to do your job safely.
- The right to stop work and step away from danger, without punishment.
- Freedom to join, or not join, a workers’ organisation or union.
- Equal treatment, whatever your gender, tribe, religion, age, disability or health status.
We never allow
- Anyone under 18 in production, machinery or hazardous work.
- Forced work, or holding anyone’s ID documents or wages.
Respect at work
Zero tolerance for harassment, bullying and abuse.
This includes
- Unwanted touching, comments, messages or gestures of a sexual nature.
- Asking for favours, sexual or otherwise, in return for a job, shift, promotion or pay.
- Shouting, threats, insults or humiliating anyone.
- Treating anyone unfairly because of who they are.
If it happens to you or you see it
Report it using any channel in Speak up. Reports are handled in confidence and you will be protected from retaliation.
Back to all sectionsSpeak up
You can raise any concern about safety, fair treatment, the environment or wrongdoing.
How to raise a concern
What happens next
- Your concern is recorded in the grievance register.
- It is looked into fairly by someone not involved.
- The EHS Committee reviews the register to make sure every grievance is handled properly.
- You are told the outcome.
You can stay anonymous. No one will be punished for raising a concern in good faith.
Back to all sections
Ethics & integrity
We win business fairly and keep honest records.
- Never offer, give, ask for or accept a bribe or “facilitation” payment.
- Declare any gift or hospitality from a supplier, customer or official to your manager.
- Tell your manager if a friend or relative works for a supplier or customer you deal with.
- Record stock, weights, hours and expenses truthfully.
- Protect company and customer information. Don’t share it outside work.
Unsure? Ask before you act, or use Speak up.
Back to all sectionsContractors & suppliers
Contractors follow the same rules as our own staff.
- Sign in at reception and complete the site safety induction.
- Get a permit to work before any hot work, work at height, electrical or confined space work.
- Bring and wear your own PPE suited to the job, or collect it from the PPE bay.
- Leave the work area clean and take your waste away, or use the right bins.
Contractors’ workers have the same rights and can use the same Speak up channels.
Back to all sectionsOur stakeholders
The people and organisations we work with and answer to. We keep in touch with each through our stakeholder engagement plan.
- Employees and casual workers: safe work, fair treatment and a voice through Speak up.
- Contractors: inducted and held to the same standards as our own staff.
- Suppliers and customers: honest dealings and responsible products.
- Regulators such as NEMA: full compliance and open records.
- Recyclers and waste collectors: safe, recorded handover of waste.
- Our neighbours: trucks slow near the gate, loading inside the site, noise and dust kept down.
Anyone, including members of the community, can raise a concern through the gate or the Speak up channels.
Back to all sectionsEmergency response
Tap a number to call.