The incidence of occupational accidents on construction sites in our country and in the neighboring Czech Republic has been declining in recent years. While the number of injuries is declining, their severity is still high. In any other industry sector, there is not a combination of the risks associated with machine work, in heights or depths, as in construction. Although Skanska, with less than one accident per 100 employees a year, helps to improve statistics, the company constantly invests in protective measures such as sending managers to construction site.
“Safety unfortunately sounds like a phrase. Well, we, as well as our Swedish owners, put an extreme emphasis on this area. It is in the interest of all of us that all employees should be able to return home from work. Construction is not a battlefield, and there is no reason to hurt or even kill people, “says Dan Ťok, Chairman of the Board of Skanska CS.
This year’s “Safety Week” (3-9 November 2008) had every Skanska manager marked in the diary. All over the world, and therefore in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, they changed offices to construction sites. “We want to educate both sides about safety from the perspective that people in construction or vice versa managers do not know,” says Veronika Černá, Director of Quality and Sustainable Development at Skanska CS.
Thus, 102 managers in the small groups visited more than 60 construction sites in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic. Four of them were specially trained to work at heights. “We share safety of our people and our subcontractors – Skanska provides motivation, tools and protective equipment, but everyone in the building has to act smart and foresee,” Leoš Vrzalík, General Manager of Skanska Servis, summarized the results of the Safety week at construction sites. During the Safety Week, Skanska’s construction in the SR and the Czech Republic did not cause any injury.
Post scriptum: If you (as a journalist) have agreed to visit any construction site (not only Skanska), let the building manager know when you arrive, for larger buildings at the main entrance door. You should be informed about the risks of moving on the site and askied to move alongside a representative of the site, preferably in the group. Even for you – a visitor – it is a duty to wear a helmet, a reflective vest and a solid footwear for the entire stay.
And if you want to visit Skanska, call me. Reflective vests and helmets are always in my car.