Health, safety and environment policy: zero harm, as the aim and the standard.

We, at Sterling International Consulting, recognise that high standards of health, safety and environmental protection are integral to the growth of the organisation and its people. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all employees, and to preventing any untoward incidents, accidents, injury or ill health of any employees, contractors and other relevant stakeholders. We also take adequate measures to protect the environment and prevent environmental pollution.

Sterling's senior management recognises the importance of HSE to achieve and sustain excellence in our business; therefore, with the co-operation of all employees, we continually improve our HSE management system by committing to:

• Incorporating HSE considerations in the business decisions and operations of the organisation.
• Adopting preventive measures in our business processes and practices.
• Promoting awareness among employees, contractors, business partners and other stakeholders to develop a positive HSE culture within the organisation.
• Striving to achieve zero harm and zero lost-time injuries by establishing accountability, along with an HSE mindset, at all levels of the organisation.
• Providing information and imparting training, including emergency and crisis management, to employees, contractors and other relevant stakeholders to ensure HSE requirements are met at job sites.
• Striving to reduce our environmental impact through optimisation of waste generation, preservation of natural resources and encouraging conservation and recycling.
• Maintaining proper equipment, and office and job-site conditions, through optimum use of resources that minimise or eliminate occupational health, safety and environmental risks.
• Developing effective planning and monitoring systems to periodically review the organisation's health and safety performance, identify potential errors and ensure that corrective actions are initiated to reduce their impact.

Much of our work happens on client premises: factories, construction sites, laboratories, hospitals, warehouses and offices. A Sterling consultant on a client site follows that site's safety rules and induction, wears the protective equipment the site requires, and does not enter an area or join an activity without the authorisation and controls the site has set. If a consultant considers an activity unsafe, they stop and raise it with the client contact; no engagement deadline overrides that.

The same applies to subcontracted consultants working on Sterling engagements. Where a client's own HSE requirements are stricter than this policy, the client's requirements apply on that site.

Our consultants travel between countries and sites. Travel is planned with the client in advance, and local conditions, safe transport and reasonable working hours are taken into account. Where the work does not need a site visit, we deliver it remotely, which reduces both travel risk and our environmental footprint. People working from home are expected to keep a safe and ergonomically suitable workspace.

Communication, consultation, participation and collaboration among all employees and stakeholders uphold the principles of this policy. Responsibility for compliance with this policy rests with all the employees of the company. They support its implementation by using the safety equipment issued to them, familiarising themselves with the safety rules and procedures of the organisation and enforcing appropriate corrective measures if violations are reported at job sites.

Any incident, injury, near miss or unsafe condition involving Sterling people, at our offices, on a client site or in travel, is reported to Sterling's management and, on a client site, to the client under the site's own rules. Each one is investigated, and corrective action is taken so that it does not recur.

This HSE policy is implemented in accordance with applicable statutory requirements, safety and health regulations, and the standards and codes of practice of our clients. It is reviewed regularly. It is displayed prominently on the office premises, and the detailed HSE manual is available for reference by any employee.