SKF To Achieve Global OHSAS 18001 Certification

The SKF Group has now been certified to the health and safety management standard. OHSAS 18001 by Det Norske Veritas. SKF is the first of the major bearing manufacturers to achieve this certification and is also, according to DNV, the largest organisation to be certified by them to OHSAS 18001. The approval covers 82 units in 24 countries. OHSAS stands for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series. OHSAS 18001 is an international standard for health and safety management, to which organisations can be certified externally. OHSAS 18001 is the health and safety equivalent of the environmental management standard ISO 14001. SKF's main objective with the OHSAS 18001 certification is to assist SKF units in their drive to achieve zero accidents (work-related injuries and illness), through effective health and safety management systems of all units world-wide. The project was started in September 2003, with a target of certification of the Group during 2005. The tight schedule reflected SKF's commitment to the elimination of work-related injuries and illness. Since the introduction of the "Zero Accidents" initiative in 2000, SKF has cut the accident rate for the Group by around 75%. Göteborg, January 16, 2006 Aktiebolaget SKF (publ)