Safety Week at the largest construction contractors’ sites

On May 5, 2014, at construction sites of the companies forming the Agreement for Construction Safety, a Safety Week started.

Activities related to the promotion of health and safety culture will be taken at hundreds of sites throughout the country.

It is the first joint initiative of the signatories to the Agreement carried out on such a large scale and simultaneously. This is a unique opportunity to reach out not only to the employees of own forces, but also to most of the subcontractors on the Polish market.

The idea of ​​safety campaigns is reflected in the motto: "Everything begins with me – safe I, safe we are."

The honorary patronage over the event was taken by the State Labour Inspectorate.

The signatories to the Agreement for Construction Safety are carefully prepared for the Safety Week. Already a few months earlier a poster and information campaign had been carried out among employees. A "Book of Ideas" had also been developed, which is a set of actions to carry out the Safety Week. Each of the companies had selected ideas to be individually realized at that time on their construction sites.

During the Safety Week Polimex-Mostostal will present a system of individual protection against falls from a height (anchor points, braces, an employee connection with the anchor point), methods of working in confined spaces and conduct training in evacuation. On the construction sites of Polimex-Mostostal inspections of power tools will also be carried out. Employees will participate in first aid training. During breaks our radio station will broadcast a program on safety.

The Safety Week is a time in which the signatories to the Agreement will redouble efforts in pursuit of the goal of "accident-free" work. The involvement of such a large group gives hope to change the culture of safety both in their own companies and in subcontractors.

The impact of the Agreement can already be seen. All of the members of the Agreement, i.e., eight companies - Bilfinger Infrastructure, Budimex, Hochtief Poland, MSW, Mota-Engil Central Europe, Polimex-Mostostal, Skanska and Warbud, make the same demands on health and safety in relation to their subcontractors. The method of risk assessment on the site is the same for everyone, which means that it is evaluated in relation to the tasks and is every time associated with preparing IBWR (INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFE EXECUTION OF WORKS). All companies also apply the same guidelines for training employees and contractors. The process of protective eyewear implementation is ongoing. Since the beginning of the second half of the year it shall become standard equipment for anyone on construction sites.

The Safety Week is another initiative of the signatories to the Agreement aimed at improving safety. Statistically, at Polish construction sites, 120 people are killed during the year. It is time to change it.