Balfour Beatty - Corporate Responsibility Summary Report 2007

In 2007, operating companies continued to maintain the focus on improving
the control measures of those activities that cause a potential risk to public
safety.
Safety by design
Our aim is to design both permanent and temporary works so that health and
safety risks are eliminated or reduced. For example, pre-fabrication off site in
a factory environment can lead to better quality, faster construction, reduced
costs and much safer work activity on site. Risks are designed out at source
– for both workers and the public.
This focus on design is reflected in our operating companies. Several hold inhouse
forums to enable design teams to share best practice.
The approach taken by Balfour Beatty Construction has already proved a
success in 2007. Along with Architects White Young Green and BDP a
“Safety in Design Forum” has been established. The aim of the design forum
is to develop a common hazard identification management and tracking
system as a proactive alternative to the common approach to designer’s risk
assessment.
Haden Young and Balfour Kilpatrick are investing in pre-fabrication and
modularisation. The reductions in build times, numbers of workers exposed to
risks and elimination of common hazards are rewarding their commitments.
Safety by design can be a simple affair. In Germany, Balfour Beatty Rail has
replaced the need for mobile ladders on track by developing small flexible
vehicles to access/egress the track. Additionally, to reduce work at height
they have started to pre-assemble overhead catenary components on ground.
To eliminate the traditional blind spots on site dumpers, Balfour Beatty Civil
Engineering has developed a series of sensors that fit on the front of the
dumpers.
Work at height
Following on from the success of our safety by design good practice DVD
produced in 2006, a second volume was developed in 2007. This focused on
eliminating the requirement to work at height or reduce the risks associated
with work at height through design and innovation. Innovations included
vacuum lifting, modular cladding systems and vehicle edge protection
systems.
In 2007, a continued effort was put into tackling the inherent risks from using
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP). To date 368 MEWP Coordinators
have been trained in the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
“MEWPs for Managers’ Course”. To support the training Balfour Beatty
MEWP coordinators’ guidance material has been developed. After sustained
lobbying of the supply chain, one major UK supplier agreed to retrofit their
existing supply of MEWPs to prevent accidents.
Lifting operations
The control of lifting operations remains a prime concern to some operating
companies, and continues to account for the majority of notifiable dangerous
occurrences. In 2007, a total of 15 (15 in 2006) dangerous occurrences were
were due to overturning or failure of lifting machinery/equipment.
Lifting operations are supervised by trained and nominated crane coordinators,
and each lift is controlled by an appointed person and certificated
slingers. Further training was carried out for Crane Supervisors and Appointed
Persons in safe lifting procedures in a number of operating companies.
A cross operating company task group was appointed in 2007 to specifically
look at the operation and procurement of tower cranes.
Road safety
Road safety remains a significant issue. We are concerned about both road
traffic collisions and traffic management around our work sites, as these pose
risks to both our employees and to third parties. In 2007, road traffic collisions
were the primary cause of Balfour Beatty worker fatalities.
Additionally, in 2007, 23 (18 in 2006) employees sustained injuries from road
traffic collisions whilst on company business.
We have several initiatives in place to address this risk. A cross operating
company task group, formed in July 2006, developed and issued minimum
standards for managing driving safety and a set of personal driving standards
aimed at employees.
Driver training, for the benefit of both car drivers and drivers of commercial
vehicles, is conducted by operating companies in the UK, Hong Kong and
Dubai.