Occupational Health and Safety, Civil Defense, and Fire Safety
Each year, the Bank implements a comprehensive set of measures aimed at:
- Creating and maintaining safe and healthy working conditions, and ensuring strict compliance with occupational safety requirements by employees;
- Conducting civil defense drills and exercises, as well as testing the Bank’s business continuity plans;
- Continuously improving fire safety protocols and ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations;
- Maintaining military records for individuals subject to military service and conscription.
The Bank ensures employees’ rights to safe working conditions and prioritizes their health and well-being over any other results of work activities. All employees are covered by the occupational health and safety management system.
In accordance with regulatory acts and internal policies on occupational health and safety, the Bank regularly conducts training, briefings, and knowledge assessments for employees and responsible personnel. The Bank also trains staff from contractors working under service agreements, as well as interns and temporary workers.
All workplace incidents are investigated in line with the labor laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Incident identification during investigations is not conducted, as the Bank is not classified as a high-risk organization. In 2024, there were no workplace accidents or fatalities. No fires occurred in any Bank premises or adjacent areas.
In 2024, the following activities were carried out:
- Online training for 10 designated safety personnel through a specialized organization, including examinations and certification;
- Introductory safety briefings for 153 newly hired employees.
The Bank regularly hosts sports events to promote a healthy lifestyle among employees. Participation in athletic competitions, medical insurance, and a 50 % reimbursement of gym memberships all encourage employees to stay active despite sedentary job routines.
Beyond physical activity promotion, the Bank places significant emphasis on employee health and operational safety. Under the “It’s Raining – Take an Umbrella” campaign, employees can borrow a corporate umbrella from the HR and Organizational Activities Management Department. In 2024, the Bank regularly conducted workplace safety briefings, including targeted, refresher, and unscheduled instructions covering emergencies such as fire or earthquake. All Bank buildings and branches are equipped with primary fire extinguishing means, including fire panels, extinguishers, fire hoses, and first aid kits.
The absence rate due to illness was 0.02 %, with the following safety metrics recorded:
- Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) – 0 %;
- Lost Time Accident Frequency Rate (LTAFR) – 0 %;
- Accident Severity Rate – 0 %;
- Fatal Injury Frequency Rate – 0 %;
- Occupational Disease Rate – 0 %;
- Lost Days Rate – 0 %.
The Bank also provides additional support for employees living in ecologically critical or high-radiation-risk areas. As part of its current activities, the Bank takes the following measures:
- employees of the Kyzylorda branch living in ecologically critical area and those of the East Kazakhstan and Abay regional branches living in radiation risk areas are provided with additional paid leave.
- employees of the East Kazakhstan and Abay regional branches living in high-radiation-risk areas are provided with additional maternity leave.
- additional labor remuneration is provided to employees living in ecologically critical and high-radiation-risk areas, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In the area of civil defense, in accordance with the Bank’s Business Continuity Response Plans, drills were conducted with evacuation of employees, rescue operations and firefighting. In the course of drills, the Business Continuity Response Plan of each division (Central Office and Branches of the Bank) was tested, the result of which was registered in the test report.
In the area of fire safety, the following activities were carried out in 2024:
- in accordance with the provisions of the Instructions on Fire Safety Measures for the Buildings of the Bank’s Head Office and Branches, fire safety inspections of the Bank’s buildings, premises and territories were carried out, which are registered in the report checklists;
- during the year, online fire safety training of 64 managers and responsible personnel was conducted under the fire technical minimum program and certificates were given.
Persons in charge of military records of the Central Office and Branches of the Bank carried out military registration duties for reservists and conscripts.
Any delays in obtaining military IDs were addressed during 2024. The Bank ensured timely reporting of conscripts and reserve officers to local defense departments as requested.