Social Responsibility Report 2010 (PDF Version)


This report covers Spec Furniture’s Social Responsibility efforts for the year of 2010. Spec uses the Social Accountability Standard (SA8000), as a guideline. Spec’s goals, measurements and achievements that are covered in this document relate to:

  1. Employee Health and Safety Management
  2. Labour and Human Rights Management
  3. Inclusiveness
  4. Community Outreach and Involvement

1. Employee Health and Safety Management


Spec is dedicated to achieving and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for our employees, as well as being committed to the prevention of occupational illness and injury as legislated under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). A comprehensive occupational health & safety program established, supported, maintained and integrated with the company's operational activities assists in achieving both organizational and operational excellence. Safety is an essential and integral part of normal operating practices. The safety of all Spec employees is the responsibility of every one who works for Spec Furniture.

In the 4th quarter of 2009, Spec’s leadership team decided to enhance employee welfare by implementing policies and procedures that go beyond the requirements of OHSA, by conforming to the requirements of a publicly available external health and safety management system standard. Throughout 2010, Spec’s Integrated Management System (IMS) Team has been developing and implementing a more stringent Health & Safety Management System in accordance with OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series). Spec was audited by an independent third-party (NSF) in November of 2010 to verify the legitimacy of this H&S Management System. Spec expects to receive its certification to this standard in the 1st quarter of 2011.

The goal of adhering to OHSAS 18001 is to improve the health & safety of a company’s employees by identifying and reducing hazards. Spec identified 21 of its 51 machines and tools as requiring additional safety controls. Plans are in place to reduce these hazards by making these machines safer to use. The machines and processes identified as higher risks have been assessed by outside engineers to assist us with upgrading the safety of these machines by adding guards, kill-switches, and lock-out procedures.

 

Spec measures and documents:
  • Incidents
  • Near Misses
  • First Aid Requests
  • Medical Aid Requests
  • Lost Time Accidents

A company wide goal was established for 0 Medical Aid Requests and Lost Time Accidents, while seeing a reduction (positive trend) in our Incidents, Near Misses, and First Aid Requests. For 2010, Spec had 2 Medical Aid Requests and 2 Lost Time Accidents. We saw a decrease in Incidents and Near Misses, therefore a positive trend. There was an increase in First Aid Requests which indicates a willingness on the part of employees to raise Health and Safety issues. By establishing the root cause of First Aid requests, we are better able to prevent recurrence and improve overall Health and Safety in our facility. Refer to the graphs below. However, due to the low numbers and only a years worth of data, we will have a better idea of our trend after recording more data. None the less, we are taking 2010’s results and working on the areas needing improvement.


 







2. Labour & Human Rights Management

Spec Furniture is an equal opportunity employer. Accordingly, we have established an employment policy which provides that everyone shall be recruited, hired, compensated, trained, assigned, promoted, transferred, demoted, laid off, recalled and terminated without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

         For the year of 2010, Spec had zero Human Rights Violations.



3. Inclusiveness

Spec believes in inclusiveness – all individuals have a right to be treated with respect in the workplace. We are committed to providing a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity and that supports productivity, personal goals, and the selfesteem of all of us.

We will not tolerate or condone discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sex, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, age, handicap, sexual orientation, record of offences, marital or family status, receipt of public assistance or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

For 2010, the staff cultural composition was as follows:


 
Male Black 15%
Male Hispanic 15%
Male Indian 0%
Male Asian 21%
Male White 21%
Female Black 4%
Female Hispanic 2%
Female Indian 0%
Female Asian 11%
Female White 12%
All Total 100%


4. Community Outreach


Spec contributes to their community in multiple ways. During 2010, Spec supported the following non-profit organizations by donation of money, products or supplies:

  1. The Canadian Red Cross Society
  2. Sick Kids Foundation
  3. CHUM Charitable Foundation
  4. Sierra Club Canada Foundation
  5. Canadian Cancer Society
  6. Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario
  7. Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
  8. Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation
  9. Second Harvest
  10. Scarborough Hospital Foundation
  11. The Polaris Institute
  12. Canadian Mental Health Association
  13. Daily Bread Food Bank

Spec donated excess materials to the following schools:
  1. Humber College (laminate)
  2. George Brown College (laminate, solid wood, and wood veneer)

Spec donated excess fabric to the following local small businesses:
  1. Mari Cla Ro
  2. Echoes in the Attic
  3. Care-e On