Health and safety

Health and safety policy

Our health and safety policy aims to provide the safest and healthiest work environment possible. Safety incidents can lead to serious or fatal accidents, with negative impacts on employees and the company. The safety policy minimises this impact through proactive measures, including risk assessment, incident reporting systems, education and training, the use of personal protective equipment, and effective emergency response procedures.  ^{(ESRS S1 par. 23 & ESRS 2 par. 65a)}

The safety policy applies to all activities and employees of Enexis Groep, as well as contractors, subcontractors, and visitors to Enexis sites (see also S2 Employees in the value chain). Safety aspects are also part of our Code of Conduct for internal and external employees. This includes our standards and values.  ^{(ESRS 2 par. 65b) (ESRS 2 par. 65 e-f)}

In implementing our safety policy, we adhere to external standards and initiatives, including Netbeheer Nederland’s BEI (Operational Procedures for Electrical Installations) and VIAG (Safety Instructions for Natural Gas), the GVE (Code of Conduct for Safety in Energy Companies), and the NTA (Dutch Technical Agreement) 8120 and ISO 55001 standards for asset management. We have also achieved Safety Culture Ladder Level 4 certification from NEN (the Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute) for parts of the organisation and comply with VCA** (Safety, Health, and Environment Checklist for Contractors certification). ^{(ESRS 2 par. 65d)}

Consultation with employees on health and safety

We consult directly with our employees and with employee representatives through our VGWM (Safety, Health, Welfare, and Environment) Committee and safety councils at our sites and departments. Consultation occurs at various stages, including before pilot projects to test new working methods or tools and during clothing wear tests. The VGWM Committee meets every six weeks. Among other things, the committee provides informal feedback on draft procedures, evaluates internal safety reports, and discusses developments within the organisation. Approved policies and procedures go through a formal process. Operational responsibility for consultation with the VGWM Committee lies with Enexis’ HSEQ director. In addition, the VGWM Committee regularly consults with the works councils. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 27a-c)}

We evaluate the effectiveness of the dialogue through reports and complaints in the Safety Compass, as well as through the input of branch representatives on committees. We ensure that stakeholders are consulted and involved in the process. For example, non-managerial employees must be consulted on many activities, from health and safety policies and targets to incident investigations, audit programmes, and identifying and assessing risks and opportunities. The principle is that every employee can participate and is given the time, space, and resources by the manager to do so. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 27e)}

Measures to ensure health and safety

To protect employees, we aim to minimise risk wherever possible. We do this by implementing safety standards, training, and proactive measures, and promoting a safe work culture. We also closely monitor activity across our networks and consistently encourage safe behaviour. We do this through workplace visits, team meetings, workshops, ongoing process improvement, learning from incidents, and providing positive safety examples. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 38a-c)} Each year, we recognise colleagues who have made an exceptional or visible contribution to safety with our Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Award.

Learning from (near) accidents is a priority, so we monitor and analyse all incidents. We share the results and incorporate lessons learned into our work protocols, toolkits, training programmes, and learning sessions in the training hall. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 38d, 39, 40)} We also work closely with contractors to improve safety. Working in more voltage-free and gas-free conditions to minimise safety risks is another priority. This is particularly important at a time of huge production growth and labour shortages. An added benefit is that new, less experienced employees can be integrated into our grid operations more quickly and safely.

Our health and safety measures are detailed in our safety policy, which is VCA and ISO 45001 certified. It covers the following aspects: ^{(ESRS S1 par. 37, 38a, 39) (ESRS S1 par. 41) (ESRS 2 par. 68a-b)}

• Policy and organisation: procedures for requesting and issuing safety instructions (BEI and VIAG), risk inventory and evaluation (RIE), incident reporting, and VGWM audits.

• Education and training: mandatory safety training, VGWM meetings, and start-of-work meetings.

• Workplaces: workplace visits, vehicle inspection questionnaires, and HSE site checklists.

• Work not primarily related to electricity and gas: instructions for waste management, handling hazardous substances, working in contaminated soil, asbestos management, and PCB oil-containing equipment.

• Procedures under the site manager’s responsibility: management of keys and seals, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and reporting methods for specific sites.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE): procurement, use, and maintenance of PPE and safety clothing.

• Emergency response and first aid: HSE site policies and procedures in the event of a fire.

• For the meter company: entering and working in CO₂ operational areas.

Metrics and targets for health and safety

To prevent occupational accidents, we continuously work to foster a strong safety-conscious environment. Our safety and health procedures comply with applicable laws and regulations, and we actively strengthen our safety culture. We aim to create a work environment where safety and health are clear priorities. Employee involvement and shared responsibility are promoted through safety councils with employee representation. Continuous evaluation and improvement of the system are essential to reducing risks and enhancing the effectiveness of our processes.  ^{(ESRS S1 par. 47a, 47b, 47c)} Enexis aims to learn from incidents to prevent recurrence. Every incident is therefore reported and, when necessary, investigated. The HSEQ department analyses all safety reports and presents its findings to the Executive Board. These findings are also discussed periodically by the Supervisory Board.

Safety is a top priority at Enexis. All employees (100%) are therefore covered by the safety management system.^{(ESRS S1-14 par. 88a)}

We assess the effectiveness of our safety measures by tracking the number of incidents that result in absenteeism and the Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF). LTIF is the number of work-related accidents that result in employee absenteeism per one million hours worked. This calculation method is standard across the sector. ^{(ESRS S1-14 par. 86, 87, 88b-c, 89)} For calculating the total number of hours, 135 hours per month per FTE is applied. The figure of 135 hours is derived from the gross number of hours of an FTE, reduced by average allowances for leave and absenteeism

A lower LTIF indicates a safer work environment. Enexis strives for zero work-related accidents resulting in absenteeism. While it is not possible to eliminate all risks entirely, we aim to maintain an LTIF consistently below 1. Given the figures recorded in recent years, this remains an ambitious target.

The number of accidents and near-miss reports are monitored daily. Our LTIF target for employees is <1 ^{(ESRS S1 par. 46 en 47 )}. In 2025, however, the LTIF worsened compared to 2024 (2.4 versus 1.1), mainly due to an increase in incidents involving minor injuries, such as falls and people being caught or trapped. This development does not require a change in policy: compliance and sustained attention to safety remain central. That said, we took targeted measures to reduce the number of incidents involving minor injuries in 2026. Communication on this topic will be intensified.

In addition to LTIF, we are reporting the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) for the first time this year, in line with ESRS requirements. TRIFR includes fatal accidents, accidents resulting in absenteeism, cases involving restricted work, and incidents requiring medical treatment. This indicator has been calculated retrospectively up to and including 2024. In 2025, our TRIFR was 3.9. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 88d)} Our TRIFR target for 2026 is <3.16. Alongside accidents, Enexis also addresses occupational illnesses. In 2025, five cases of occupational illness or related absenteeism were reported. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 88d)} The total number of absenteeism days related to work-related accidents was 697.

In addition to incidents involving absenteeism, there are cases in which employees temporarily perform restricted work and the absenteeism does not last longer than one workday or shift. In such situations, employees are unable to perform their usual work but remain actively engaged through alternative tasks.

Recovery processes for health and safety

If an employee experiences health-related harm as a result of their work, a range of support measures is available. Employees can report concerns or suggestions for improvement via the Safety Compass. They can also voice their concerns or grievances to the employee participation body or confidential advisers. If a complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, employees may submit an objection under the company's scheme or file a claim through our insurance arrangements. All available procedures are accessible on our intranet. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 32a-e)(ESRS S1 par. 38b)}

We periodically assess employee confidence in our health and safety policies and processes through the Enexis Employee Survey. Employees who raise concerns are protected by company regulations. ^{(ESRS S1 par. 33)}

Attracting talent

For information on attracting talent, please refer to the ‘Technical staff’ section of the management report.