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National Semiconductor has comprehensive occupational health and safety programs governed by three sets of interactive requirements: (1) applicable laws and regulations, (2) the OHSAS 18001:2007 occupational health and safety management system specification and (3) our internal health and safety standards, which are often stricter than regulatory requirements.
OSHA Injury Rates
 The effectiveness of National's programs is demonstrated by a low and declining OSHA recordable injury rate, consistently lower than the semiconductor industry rate. The OSHA recordable injury rate is a measure of injury frequency. We also track our OSHA rate for days away from work because of injury, an indication of injury severity, and our OSHA rate for days our employees work with restrictions because of injury. All OSHA rates are based on 100 full-time equivalent employees (FTE), which is equal to 200,000 working hours per year.
National's OSHA recordable rate has decreased significantly since 2002 and has been maintaining these lower levels for nearly a decade. National's goal is to maintain an OSHA recordable rate at least 50% below the Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average and we continually strive towards zero injuries. Our focus is on ergonomic injuries, which account for approximately 50% of our recordable injuries.
OSHA Injury Rate Information
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Chemical Handling PPE - Melaka, Malaysia |
Safe Workplace
A primary focus of National's occupational health and safety program is to provide a safe workplace. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment is often unique and very complex. Consequently, new semiconductor manufacturing equipment is assessed by a certified third-party assessor for conformance with Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International's SEMI S2 Environmental, Health, and Safety Guideline for Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment and SEMI S8 Safety Guidelines for Ergonomics Engineering of Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment EHS and Ergonomic Standards. Conditions that pose a potentially serious health and safety risk are corrected prior to shipment. After installation manufacturing equipment at National passes through a rigorous internal EHS assessment before it can be put into production.
Semiconductor wafer fabrication processes require the use of a number of hazardous chemicals and gases. National employs multiple levels of protection to enable the safe use of chemicals and gases and to prevent employee exposure to chemical hazards. Our fabrication areas have state-of-art, automated systems to distribute chemicals and gases to processing equipment. These systems are secondarily contained, ventilated and monitored for leaks. Workplaces are continuously monitored for toxic gases by sophisticated detection systems. If any toxic gas is detected at the occupational exposure limit, the process is automatically shutdown and employees are alerted to evacuate.
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Industrial hygiene monitoring – Santa Clara, CA |
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High Voltage Electricity PPE - Melaka, Malaysia |
Periodic workplace and personal industrial hygiene monitoring is also conducted by trained health and safety professionals. Employees are supplied with and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). They are trained to handle chemicals safely, understand the hazards of the chemicals they use, immediately report all spills and leaks and to evacuate if they detect a chemical odor.
Other potential hazards, such as electrical and mechanical hazards, are similarly addressed. Machinery is equipped with guards, interlocks and other safeguards. Employees have and use appropriate PPE. They are trained on equipment specific operating procedures, which specify how to correctly and safely operate and maintain the equipment. We assess jobs for risks to employee health and safety. Engineering controls and other strategies are used to eliminate identified risks. |
