Product safety impacts, risks and opportunities
Safety is an always present and important topic for mining and construction companies. As a business-to-business manufacturer of mining and infrastructure equipment, our products and services directly impact professional end-users operating our equipment in the mining and construction industries. These end-users can be exposed to potential health and safety risks and it is critical to support customers to improve safety and wellness for the end-users (operators) and their colleagues. They rely on clear manuals and instructions for safe use of the equipment.
Through customer dialogues, we develop an understanding of how different end-user groups may face greater product risks. All materially impacted end-users are included in the scope of our disclosures. These users are employed by our customers or Epiroc. For more information about our own employees, see ESRS S1 Own workforce. Identified material IROs in this section only covers the area of product safety.
Material impacts, risks and opportunities
Product safety
| Misuse of products and defective products can risk customer health and safety | ||
| Potential negative impact | ||
| Downstream | ||
| Short-term | Medium-term | Long-term |
| Misuse of products and defective products can risk liability and lead to reputational damage | ||
| Risk | ||
| Downstream | ||
| Short-term | Medium-term | Long-term |
| Safe solutions can increase Epiroc’s competitiveness and stakeholder satisfaction | ||
| Opportunity | ||
| Downstream | ||
| Short-term | Medium-term | Long-term |
Customers expect maximum productivity from equipment and operators. The operators and technicians, however, work in challenging conditions that pose safety risks. To support our customers in meeting their productivity targets while prioritizing safety, we consider product safety in every aspect of the product lifecycle. From design and development to production, testing, services, and customer support. Every department prioritizes safety. Despite all safety measures, accidents can still happen. We investigate and act on every individual incident communicated to us.
Misuse of products or defective products can result in liabilities such as recalls, legal action, injury compensation, and higher insurance costs, negatively impacting Epiroc’s reputation, profitability and customer confidence. To mitigate this risk, we work closely with customers on risk management, accident and incident reporting, training and change management, to promote best practices among equipment operators and service technicians.
Safe solutions with a focus on preventive measures uphold our commitment to deliver high-quality and reliable equipment designed for safe operations in challenging environments. These measures preserve customer confidence while enhancing Epiroc's competitiveness, business opportunities, and stakeholder satisfaction.