More than 4,000 Skanska UK employees will take part in the world’s largest health and safety week from October 22.
Although the construction industry only employs 5% of the total UK workforce, it causes 27% of all fatal injuries and 9% of reported major injuries, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)*.
To help reduce accidents and incidences, Skanska is holding the global safety week to ensure each and every employee, sub-contractor and members of its supply chain continue to return home unharmed and safe each day.
Throughout the week, activities are taking place that are dedicated to encouraging people to take responsibility for their own safety and those around them and to speak up when they see things that are not right. Sessions include:
■ Safety briefings and workshops
■ Plant and equipment demonstrations
■ Driver awareness training
■ Site family days
■ General health awareness
Employees will also be asked to reflect on what health and safety means to them and how their work environment could be affecting their health and wellbeing.
Dylan Roberts, Director of Health and Safety at Skanska, said: “Over the last two years, we have made significant progress in creating an injury-free environment. To make even more progress, it is vital that individuals at all levels can speak freely if they think something is wrong.
“By dedicating a week to health and safety we are not only raising our levels of awareness, we are asking our employees to question what they do each day to eliminate complacency which will help to avoid accidents both in the in the workplace and at home."
The week is an annual event held by Skanska and is the largest workplace initiative of its kind in the world. The theme for the week is: ‘Our journey to an injury-free environment starts with you and me taking responsibility.’
* Health and safety executive website, 2010/2011 construction industry statistics http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/index.htm