Transparency – LABS Initiative

Transparency is at the core of the Life and Building Safety program. By providing insights into the program and its partners, LABS strives to be as effective as possible. Therefore, maintaining a high level of transparency, LABS publicly shares information around its standard, activities, progress, and remediation status of factory partners. Additionally, LABS also share Helpline data on a regular basis

The program publicly shares:

The LABS Standard and Methodology by which factories are measured for Structural, Fire and Electrical safety
Assessment protocols
The program’s factory list
Factory assessment data (also when a factory is long-term non-compliant)
Corrective action plans (CAPs)
Remediation reports
Helpline data
LABS newsletters

VIETNAM		INDIA
FIRE	• 100% of the factories removed temporary obstacles on evacuation pathways • 87% of the factories added extra emergency lighting • 87% of the factories installed additional fire alarms • 75% of the factories installed additional fire detectors • 79% of the factories remedied issues at the exit doors	• 97% of the factories installed emergency lights • 96% of the factories removed temporary obstacles on the evacuation pathways • 99% of the factories installed illuminated exit signages • 79% of the factories eliminated locking mechanisms from exit doors
ELECTRICAL	• 97% of the factories removed the lint and dust from electrical panels and Dbs • 97% of the factories corrected the high temperatures in electrical panels and Dbs • 100% of the factories remediated issues regarding the Supplies to Life Safety Systems • 79% of the factories installed PE connections	• 90% of the factories eliminated the lint and dust from electrical panels and Dbs • 97% of the factories reduced the high temperatures in electrical panels and Dbs • 93% of the factories provided PE connections for electrical components
STRUCTURAL	• 78% of the factories repaired the missing/incomplete bracing in steel building • 73% of the factories fixed the visible distress in structural members, such as cracks on columns, beams, or slabs • 76% of the factories provided the Allowable Loading Plans throughout the factory building	• 70% of the factories fixed the cracks in beams and columns • 81% of the factories removed corrosion in non-engineered structures, such as MS Shed • 75% of the factories eliminated the wall dampness

LABS Initiative posts information about factories that are behind schedule in their remediation activities or are terminated from the program due to consistently missing remediation deadlines. Brand’s sourcing teams have access to detailed data on this.

LABS monitors remedial actions and assessments are performed by vetted experts. LABS Factory Coordinators function as facilitators between factories and LABS Brands and Retailers regarding monitoring, assessment and remediation.

LABS is committed to monitoring corrective action plans (CAPs) as per LABS Standards and Methodology. An account for each participating factory is created on the Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC) online platform to share reports, assessments, training information, and CAPs with the participating brands. Inspections by LABS vetted assessment firms is be reported on the FFC platform. Summaries of the remediation data is also be shared with wider stakeholders, on the LABS website, which shows which factories are committed to making a positive change.

Factories onboarded

Workers reached

Safety trainings conducted

Factories assessed