At Skanska, we aim to eradicate accidents and injury on our construction sites. We believe our target of zero accidents is an achievable aspiration. However, it is a huge challenge in an industry that often involves dangerous machinery, heavy loads and working at height.

It is our responsibility to ensure that every person who works for Skanska returns home safely at the end of the working day. Fostering a culture of care and concern for others, as well as openness and transparency, is the mission of our IFE programme. All employees receive training as part of this programme, which is also extended to sub contractors and partner organisations with more than 600 senior managers from suppliers trained last year.

This behavioural change programme is complemented by the most rigorous application of best practice health and safety processes and procedures, adhering to BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety standards as a minimum.

While ensuring the safety of our employees and those sub contractors working on our sites is our paramount concern, we also share useful developments and learning with the wider industry. Our move to launch double-locking attachments on all excavators led to an industry-wide ban on semi-automatic attachments on quick-hitch plant, for example. In addition, the anti-crushing device developed by Skanska, working with industry bodies, has now been introduced to all mobile elevated site work platforms on our sites and is being adopted further afield. 

In 2012, Skanska received safety awards for many of its projects, including Heron Tower, London Power Tunnels, the Olympics, Paddington Station and North London Gas Alliance.