Safety first and foremost
Lemminkäinen’s Safety Programme sets out the Group’s common safety principles and goals, the means by which they are to be achieved, and the safety management systems.
Systematic safety work is supported by occupational safety and health and environmental management certificates covering most of the activities of the Group and its business units.
The principles of safety work are:
- Safety risks are to be evaluated systematically using reliable risk analyses.
- The programmes, plans and instructions necessary to ensure safety are to be produced, and different kinds of aids, equipment and personal protective equipment are to be used.
- Employees are to be given the safety training and guidance needed in their work.
- Safety work is to be done jointly by the employer and the employees, and the company is to participate in safety development work of the construction sector.
- Safety work is to be continuously improved on the basis of internal assessments and the feedback obtained from them.
- Applicable occupational safety and health and environmental legislation must be observed.
Good safety practices
As a company with operations in different areas of the construction sector, Lemminkäinen applies practices that have proven to be sound in its various business units.
The level and development of occupational safety is controlled using measurement methods adapted to suit the construction sector. These measurements are based on observations of safety factors such as site organisation, cleanliness, machinery, equipment, scaffolding, protection from falling objects, lighting and waste management. The introduction of the measurement methods has improved the standard of site safety.
The practice for reporting workplace hazards has been renewed and employees have been issued with notebooks to record safety-related observations. The Eurostat-compliant accident statistics system has been developed to make it more suitable for occupational safety reporting.
Analyses of occupational safety risks are made at each workplace and the risk assessments are updated whenever operational changes are made. The safety of the work environment and working conditions is also developed on the basis of site studies conducted by the occupational healthcare service.
Lemminkäinen’s business units take part in occupational safety competitions organised in the construction sector. For example, the roofing contract for the Sello shopping centre and the construction site of the Pasaati shopping centre in Kotka both won prizes in 2006 for their safety arrangements.
The Group is a member of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s nationwide Zero-Accident Forum. The aim of the forum is to help and encourage its members to eliminate accidents and to share information on good experiences in different branches of industry.
The Group’s own safety projects
In 2006 Lemminkäinen launched its “Safe Tar Boy” campaign with the aim of reducing accidents in the workplace. In the first theme year, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of intervening to neutralise workplace hazards, and improvements were made in the Group’s occupational safety reporting.
The annual “Golden Helmet” safety competition was organised among the Group’s business units. The performance assessment criteria used in the competition were based on the continuous improvement of safety standards.
Wide-ranging training
The safety training organised for employees is wide-ranging and job-specific in different business areas. The most important themes of the training have included the identification of dangers at work and in the work environment, the measurement of safety, safe working practices, the use of personal protective equipment, giving consideration to other workers, and the importance of embracing safety issues.
The importance of filling out occupational safety cards was once again stressed. Occupational safety card training was organised for the first time in 2004. The number of employees filling out occupational safety cards in 2006 was about 1,500, making a grand total of 4,000 cards since the scheme was introduced. Lemminkäinen’s own instructors are qualified to give training on occupational safety cards, road safety and fire work safety.
Employee training in areas such as electrical work and first aid is also organised. Lemminkäinen organised safety training for about 3,000 employees in 2006.
Lemminkäinen involved in Zero-Accident Forum