Janssen Pharmaceutica
in Geel is the first Johnson & Johnson site
to receive an Ergonomics Culture Award. In the
J&J organization, this is the highest accolade
of excellence in the field of ergonomics. This
recognition came at the end of a three-day audit
in October 2003.
Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest healthcare
companies in the world, regards the safety and
health of its employees as a top priority. Several
years ago, in 1996, J&J introduced a worldwide
ergonomics program (ERGO) with the goal of preventing
workplace injuries and work-related health problems.
This program has led to a strategic collaborative
alliance this year with the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) in the USA.
This program does more than just comply with
all the legal regulations. Ultimately, it is the
intention to develop ergonomics as an integral
component of all business processes. From more
than 200 companies within the Johnson & Johnson
organization, Janssen Pharmaceutica Geel is the
first to win the highest degree of recognition
in the program: the cultural level.
Nearly a decade ago, in 1995, an ergonomics project
was initiated, inspired by Michel Vangeel, industrial
hygienist and ergonomist in Janssen’s Safety
Services department. In developing the ergonomics
program, care was taken to ensure that all the
basic requirements were in place: management commitment,
training at various levels, awareness, involvement
of all employees, identification of problem areas
and the preparation of corresponding action plans,
prevention of new problem areas, support from
the Company Medical Services, and internal audits.
Janssen Pharmaceutica
The chemical plant in Geel was established more
than 25 years ago and employs 700 persons. The
plant produces active ingredients for medicinal
products and accounts for 60-70% of the worldwide
chemical production of Johnson & Johnson.
This is equivalent to several hundred million
patient treatments each year.
In the Johnson & Johnson group, Janssen
Pharmaceutica is a worldwide Center of Excellence
for integrated R&D, production, and general
services. In Belgium, the company has sites in
Beerse, Geel and Olen. It has a workforce of 4,234
persons, who, along with the more than 250 staff
members of Janssen-Cilag in Berchem, are responsible
for the Belgian and Luxembourg markets. With more
than 80 drugs to its credit, the company is one
of the most innovative in the world and its products
are used worldwide in human and animal medicine
and material protection. The company is active
in diverse areas, including gastroenterology,
central nervous system disorders, oncology, pain
control, and inflammatory diseases.
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