Sonae Sierra receives first safety & health cert for mall construction

Sonae Sierra has become the first company in Europe to obtain a Safety & Health certification for the management of the construction of a shopping centre.

The OHSAS 18001 certification for LeiriaShopping mall in Portugal relates to the management of prevention of labour risks, developed by an international consortium of normalization and certification entities.

Sonae Sierra said the certification underlines its commitment in this area, especially because it refers to the construction phase, an activity that carries risks in terms of safety and health, with a high prevalence of accidents.

The certification, issued by TÜV Rheinland, a German multinational leader in the certification area, acknowledges the quality of the Health & Safety system implemented in the management of the construction of LeiriaShopping, allowing the organization to identify and control the safety and health risks on site, decrease the potential for accidents, contribute to the compliance with safety regulations and increase productivity in general.

OHSAS 18001 is a standard that validates a Management System (like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001), orientated towards Safety & Health at work, functioning as a tool that allows companies to manage and control their performance levels in these areas, according to the objectives, policies and action plans set by the company itself.