Business Continuity

Ensure business continuity, environmental protection, and health & safety in emergency situations, in line with the key pillars of Metlen Health and Safety Policy and the Environmental Policy.

Effects

Existing positive effects

Managing emergencies and ensuring business continuity is a top priority for Metlen. That is why in all Business Sectors of the Company the appropriate Emergency Prevention and Response Plans are implemented aiming at the effective management of emergencies and situations, at all levels for the protection of the natural environment and social welfare at local and national level.

Potential negative effects

The possible inadequate treatment of relevant risks may create negative effects on employees, the local community, the natural environment but also on the smooth operation of the Company's activities and consequently on its reputation, as well as its financial results.

Main risks

The low degree of response and preparedness to emergencies (fires, explosions, soil subsidence, release of chemicals into the environment, transportation of products, waste, natural hazards such as weather and seismic events, health and safety incidents and other risks) is a key risk for the Company.

In all Business Sectors of the Company, appropriate Emergency Prevention and Response Plans are implemented (fire, explosion, leaks, natural phenomena, extreme weather conditions, etc.), in order to effectively deal with all recognized incidents that result in deviation from their smooth operation, with serious consequences for the environment and the Health & Safety of employees and local communities in general.

• In the Metallurgy Sector, an Emergency Response System has been developed at the facilities of Ag. Nikolaos Viotias with main axes: a) an integrated Internal Emergency Plan (ESEA) with special evacuation plans, b) the systematic training of personnel and c) the planning and implementation of preparedness exercises in accordance with the annual program and the adaptation to the requirements of the ESEA.
• In the Energy Sector, both in energy centers and in RES units, construction sites, shops, but also in offices, a package of emergency response measures is implemented that includes: a) Emergency Team or Emergency Officer, b) recorded Emergency Response Procedures / Incidents / Accidents, Emergency Plans / Plans c) implementation of Emergency Management Plans and d) implementation of exercises and staff training according to with the special Evacuation Plans and the Instructions for Building Emergencies.
• The subsidiary METKA SA also operates an integrated and certified Business Continuity Management System (ISO 22301:2019) with appropriate Emergency Prevention and Response Plans, designed to effectively respond to all identified emergencies. Each construction site has its own emergency plan, appropriate to the nature of its activities and the risks identified and assessed.

• 37 preparedness exercises related to dealing with fire of production facilities, rescue indoors and at height, as well as evacuation of offices and facilities of the Chemical Laboratory after an earthquake were carried out in the Metallurgy Sector.
• 36 preparedness drills related to general evacuation, as well as building evacuation exercises, fire, lightning, earthquake and explosion response exercises, rescue exercise from height and confined space, chemical leak and gas leakage exercise, as well as building evacuation in case of explosion, earthquake, (forest) fire and station abandonment due to severe weather phenomena and lightning were carried out in the Energy Sector.
• 6 preparedness drills related to site evacuation drills due to explosion risk, fire safety due to fire in part of a forest, building evacuation drills and use of fire extinguishers in case of fire were carried out at METKA SA and its subsidiaries.
• At headquarters level, 2 evacuation preparedness exercises were also implemented in a fire scenario.