Sustainability Report 2011 - Balfour Beatty Rail

Healthy communities
Health and safety
Accident frequency rate
Over the past year, the accident frequency rate (AFR) 1 for our
wholly owned businesses reduced by nearly 10% from 0.19 to 0.17.
However, the overall Group AFR increased from 0.16 to 0.17, due to
an increased AFR in our jointly owned international businesses.
Trend in Accident Frequency Rate for 2001–2011
(split by OpCo and Group)
AFR
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
AFR (OpCo’s) AFR (Group) Hours (OpCo’s) Hours (Group)
Permanently disabling injuries
Five permanently disabling injuries occurred in 2011 (three in the
UK, one in Germany and one in Hong Kong) compared to two in
2010. One of these incidents resulted in a leg amputation following
an excavator crushing injury, two resulted in finger amputations,
one in the amputation of a foot and the other involved a serious
head injury.
Public safety
158 injuries to the public were reported in 2011 (2010: 159),
of which 90% were of a minor nature. Of these incidents, five
resulted in major injury and a further three in lost time. 50% were
due to slips, trips and falls, with a further 20% struck by a moving
or falling object. The majority of injuries occurred in our utilities,
construction and facilities management businesses.
Fines and convictions
During 2011, the Group was fined a total of £163,000 for
five separate health and safety violations as detailed below
(2010: £38,800):
• A road-side CCTV repair worker died in a fall from height in
January 2006. Birse Civils was fined £100,000 and ordered to
pay £18,000 costs
• Following a potential asbestos exposure in December 2009,
Mansell was prosecuted and fined £50,000
• Our Hong Kong joint venture Gammon Construction faced four
convictions during the period, two related to work at height and
one each related to eye protection and safe systems of work.
The company was fined £7,432 equivalent
• Our US company Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc was fined
£3,400 equivalent for minor safety violations
• Balfour Beatty Construction US’ Fort Benning Reception Center
received a fine of £2,050 equivalent for incorrect propane
gas storage
Occupational health
We ensure our employees are fit for work and undertake regular
occupational health screening (including drugs and alcohol). During
2011, 9,676 employees received screening (2010: 9,101). Of these
7% were referred for further medical examination (2010: 8%). No
cases of silicosis were reported across our business (zero in 2010).
We also support the wellbeing of our employees by providing diet
and healthy lifestyle information and support (see our Wellbeing
and absence section).
44
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Hours worked (Millions)
Key hazards
We continue to address the seven key fatal risks identified across
the Group:
• Working with electricity
• Working at height
• Lifting operations
• Plant and equipment operation
• Falling objects
• Contact with moving vehicles
• Driving
We continue to improve our investigation and reporting of
High Potential incidents – those incidents that under different
circumstances could result in serious injury or fatality. These
reviews are undertaken by senior management and the learning
shared across the Group. A total of 240 High Potential incidents
were investigated across the Group in 2011 (2010: 200).
Key data
Safety Performance data:
Major injuries 189 (2010: 183)
Over 3 day injuries 358 (2010: 289)
Group AFR 0.17 (2010: 0.16)
High Potential Incidents 240 (2010: 200)
Public injuries 158 (2010: 159)
Awards
Dutco Balfour Beatty, operating out of Dubai, won the DuPont
Safety Award 2011 in the Sustainable Business Impact Category
for its worker champion initiative.
Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern won the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA’s) highest award
– the Sir George Eagle Trophy, for their Zero Harm programme:
“Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and
Southern has put down a solid benchmark
for accident and ill-health prevention that
we hope other firms will strive to achieve.
The company’s overall approach to health
and safety is not to punish or stigmatise,
but to encourage behaviour change
through dialogue with workers and
celebrating success.”
Tom Mullarkey, Chief Executive, RoSPA
Dan Sheridan, of Balfour Beatty Construction US, was named as
the TEXO safety professional of the year in 2011. TEXO is a Texan
partnership formed by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
For more information on employee wellbeing
go to P46
1 Number of reportable (major and over three-day) injuries per 100,000
hours worked.
Balfour Beatty Sustainability Report 2011