Priority areas for sustainability

Reducing Netel’s impact on the climate

To reach the goal-setting of the Paris Agreements and Agenda 30, everybody must contribute by reducing their carbon footprint. At Netel we make decisions every day which concern and effect our emission levels.

Netel always strives to run the business as energy and resource efficient as possible. We strive towards decreasing our carbon dioxide emissions by prioritizing renewable resources and making transportations more effective, since our largest direct climate impact occurs via transports between work sites.

Netel can decrease its impact on the climate by investing in environmentally friendly vehicles and ensuring well thought-out logistics throughout the entire value chain. We regularly inspect our car fleet and covet modern vehicles with high performance standards and lesser climate impact. Since the work sites maintained by Netel often require long distance travels, electric cars are not a sufficient alternative for the entire fleet. Electric cars are prioritized in cases where they can meet Netel’s conditions.

Resourceful transport logistics are important for both reducing the impact on the climate and ensuring high efficiency. Netel strives to reduce the number of site transports by, among other things, timing material deliveries to as few instances as possible and coordinating transports between sites. Effective transport logistics also require valuable cooperation between subcontractors, suppliers, and clients.

In our own offices and locales, we sign green energy agreements. In the Code-Of-Conduct for subcontractors and suppliers we require of our partners to devise a management plan that reduces energy consumption and climate impact.

The environment in focus

For Netel to achieve the least negative environmental impact possible, the entire organization works in preventative ways. This implies that we continuously identify, analyze, and update the significant environmental aspects of our operations to be able to prevent, prioritize, and minimize risk. We always apply the precautionary-principle in environmental questions.

To us considering the environment is more than satisfying laws and regulations. We want all contributors in the organization to consider the environment, in all their decisions.

We prioritize the use of recyclable materials and choose chemical products which are the least hazardous to health and environment. Netel always avoids substances that damaging to the environment.

We also wish to remain up-to-date about the latest technology in order to pick the most ecological alternatives when conducting our tasks.

Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste and to sort it at the source as much as possible.
To live-up to our prominent environmental requirements, it is vital that our contributors are educated and engaged, as well as continuously working towards improving the environmental sector.

It is also important to us to have a significant crisis preparedness if an accident or hazardous discharge were to occur. In a crisis Netel ensures to always act quickly and immediately establish a full-fledged action plan.

To provide services with the foremost consideration for the environment, a close and structured cooperation is required with clients, as well as subcontractors and suppliers. In our Code of Conduct for subcontractors and suppliers we set detailed requirements related to the environmental sector.

Of course, we compel our subcontractors and suppliers to act in accordance with relevant, local and international standards. Also, they are expected to meet local and national regulations regarding wastewater, and they may not exceed the legal limits for emissions of air pollutants. They should ensure that hazardous substances are handled and kept safely and have a management plan in the case of a crisis that handles unintentional discharges. They should also guarantee that their staff-members have relevant educations.

Safe work sites

Our goal is for nobody be harmed during operations for Netel. Our business is intrinsically connected to work risks, and we work proactively to prevent and minimize risks on work sites.

An important prerequisite for avoiding risks is planning activities in such a way that safety, health, and protection is prioritized. Of course, all laws and regulations must be met, and co-workers should have relevant experiences and education when executing any task.

In the unceasing effort to improve our health and safety work, we include co-workers, unions, safety committees, and occupational health care. It is essential that employees take responsibility for their own – and others – safety, and do act is such a way that endangers themselves or others. Employees that discover compromising situations or behaviors should report them to their nearest supervisor.

We set detailed requirements on or employees, as well as our subcontractors and suppliers, to prevent work-related accidents. With us, everyone should always use suitable protective gear, for example, a safety harness and fall protection equipment when working at elevated heights. Work on electrical equipment, circuits, and tools should always be done in accordance with regulations and nobody is allowed to execute electricity work without appropriate qualifications.

At Netel there is a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and alcohol.

Traffic safety has a high priority and those who operate vehicles are not allowed to use their mobile-phone for calls, SMSs, or email. Also, there is a seatbelt requirement for all drivers and passengers. Drivers must always operate their vehicle at a certain speed and in consideration with the road, ground, and the type of vehicle.

The requirements set for our employees are also applied in our Code-Of-Conduct to subcontractors and suppliers. In addition, we require of our subcontractors and suppliers that they implement and maintain extensive risk assessments, and that they carry out methodical reports with the purpose of minimizing risk.

According to the Code-Of-Conduct for subcontractors and suppliers, they should have a health and safety plan, including fire safety, which is reviewed and updated annually. They should also ensure that their staff has appropriate training when it comes to lifesaving procedures and equipment. We also require that they have a representative in their management who is responsible for working conditions, all staff, and that they perform their tasks in accordance with internationally recognized norms.

Motivated employees

Netel assures a respectful environment for all contributors, where all co-workers feel trust towards each other and the company. An important aspect in ensuring good health amongst contributors is to enhance the motivation in their work.

At Netel motivation is the product of every contributor knowing and relating to Netel’s visions och goals, as well as their own role and the significance of their work. It is also important that contributors can affect their own work situation and possess the necessary authority to do so.  Motivation is also created by providing every contributor with the opportunity to develop their skills through training.

Another important tool for creating motivation and trust is through conducting annual staff appraisals. At Netel we cheerish our ”door-always-open” culture, which implies that all employees have a close and open relationship to bosses and management and that Netel still functions as the modest company we started off as. Our new employees are treated with respect, quickly integrated, and introduced to the company.

At Netel we build the essential telecommunications networks and see how they benefit society, individuals, and companies. We are also aware of the pressures and negative effects on health that digital technology can entail for our employees who are always available. Therefore, Netel has specific guidelines as to which times digital communications are allowed to occur and how its shaped to be effective, to ensure our employees are always at their best.

Netel wants wages to stimulate commitment, job satisfaction, and motivation so that the group’s total results are positively affected. Pertinent and competitive wages are important in order to attract, recruit, develop, and keep employees. Our wage setting harmonized on the current basis of collective agreements and other parts of wage policy should be fixed and communicated to contributors and management. Concerning all wage setting, the ”grandfather principle” and salary revisions occur according to the current collective agreements and when changing employment. Netel does not accept irrational or unmotivated wage differences.

Valuable leadership is of great importance at Netel and implies that directors take responsibility for daily operations and every employee’s well-being and development. The leadership role includes proactively working in a solution-oriented way with coworkers in the organization and external partners. An effective and respectful leadership also includes clearly informing every coworker about what is expected from them on an individual level and how these expectations harmonize with Netel’s visions and goals.