Background and purpose
The principles and values followed by Ponsse Group (“Ponsse”) require effective measures to maintain and further improve product safety and compliance. The purpose of this policy is to:
- define a framework for the prevention of liability risks for defective products,
- ensure that all Ponsse’s products are safe to use during their lifetime and that they meet the applicable requirements, and
- ensure that Ponsse’s products do not endanger the safety or health of their users and operators, service personnel, Ponsse Group employees and environment.
Safe and compliant products will protect Ponsse, its management, and personnel from the consequences of product liability risks.
Implementation of the policy and conduct in compliance with it will help to prevent incidents, improve customer satisfaction and safety of Ponsse’s products. Compliance with the policy will also contribute to reducing the number of claims and unexpected interruptions in the operations. It will also protect Ponsse Group’s financial performance and employees from personal liability.
Responsibilities and organization
This product safety policy applies globally to all Ponsse Group companies and PONSSE products, which must meet the requirements valid for the industry in all market areas.
It is the responsibility of everyone employed by Ponsse to implement, comply with and maintain best practices in the area of product safety.
Ponsse Plc’s Board of Directors approves the Product Safety Policy. Management of Ponsse is responsible for planning and allocating resources in such way that product safety is implemented and followed in all business areas. Management responsibilities by area of operation have been specified in more detail in separate instructions or guidelines. In implementing product safety, the management is supported by product safety organization.
Implementation of product safety
Ponsse has legal and ethical obligation to ensure that the products it designs, manufactures and markets do not endanger anyone's safety or health. This goal can be achieved when this policy is followed and implemented. Ponsse prepares guidelines and related instructions which will help to implement the policy.
The focus of the policy is on the management of product liability risks, and it defines the basic principles for conformity of products and product safety that must be followed.
Product conformity principles
In order to achieve and maintain the product safety requirements required by law, all Ponsse Group companies and its employees must comply with the principles mentioned below.
- Ponsse’s products must meet the product safety requirements required by the legislation of the intended market area, applicable directives and standards and other mandatory regulations.
- The above-mentioned requirements shall be defined, verified and validated and the results of these activities shall be documented.
- The necessary internal proactive and reactive measures, including risk assessments and risk management processes, shall be defined, implemented and monitored and shall cover the life expectancy of the product.
Product safety principles
In order to reduce product safety risks, all companies and employees of Ponsse Group must comply with the safety principles set out below.
- Ponsse’s products must be safe during their intended use when the instructions for use are duly followed.
- Products shall have written specifications defining the intended use, technical limitations of the product and information on applicable essential health and safety requirements.
- Information on product limits, including intended use and available health and safety options, shall be provided to the customer in the context of marketing and sales to enable the customer to make informed decisions, taking into account the customer's own specific expectations, training and working conditions. The purpose of available health and safety related options shall be clearly explained and included in writing in sales and marketing material.
- The hazards and risks associated with the product shall be identified, analyzed, assessed and eliminated or reduced during design until they reach a tolerable level.
- Ponsse has a duty to warn of risks related to its products. In order to fulfil this obligation, the identified residual risks and related safety features shall be clearly communicated to users of the product in the instructions for use and by means of warnings. Residual risk means the risk that remains after necessary protective measures to mitigate risk have been implemented.
- The above-mentioned residual risks shall be reported internally to the decision-makers responsible for the product safety risks.
- Quality plans and quality control processes shall be in place in the manufacturing to ensure that products meet their design requirements and to avoid manufacturing defects.
- Product registers must exist and be actively used. Products must have serial numbers, batch numbers or other identifiers that allow identification after delivery. This contributes to the traceability of products and safety-related components, as well as incident management.
- All modifications to products after delivery must be notified in writing and approved at the factory in writing before they are implemented.
- All safety issues related to the products, such as accidents, near misses, health hazards, unauthorized modifications or misuse of the products, shall be reported in accordance with the incident reporting process.
- Reported problems shall be investigated, analyzed and corrected as necessary.
- All information related to product safety is internal and highly confidential.
- The essential safety principles and related obligations shall be included in the agreements concluded with component suppliers and subcontractors to ensure the implementation of this policy.
Review and approval of the policy
This policy is reviewed when necessary and, in any event, every second year.
The Board of Directors of Ponsse Plc have approved this Product Safety Policy on 21 October 2024.