Baulderstone’s work safe commitment bringing in results

During this week’s Safe Work Week, Baulderstone reflects on a year of successful safety initiatives that has brought a number of achievements.

The Soft Start program is one of a number of Baulderstone’s initiatives that is bringing the issue of work safety to the forefront.

After a long holiday period, often a high-risk time for workplace accidents, Baulderstone’s project teams stop work and hold a health and safety meeting as a reminder to refocus on Safety Matters - Baulderstone’s safety campaign.

Baulderstone General Manager Queensland Stephen Green said Soft Start was introduced recently at the front end of the organisation as a result of industry practices showing that many accidents happen after an extended break from work.

“The program has been very successful and reinvigorates our staff and subcontractors to make safety a priority on site,” Green said.

“Baulderstone’s commitment to work safety is unwavering and our project managers instil this approach in all staff and subcontractors.

“Our goal is for all workers to go home every day 100% safe and healthy.”

It’s this approach which has made Baulderstone a finalist in the Queensland Safe Work Awards to be announced today.

And its programs like this that are behind the significant safety milestones Baulderstone has reached this year.

In August Baulderstone celebrated its second major safety milestone at the Townsville Wastewater Upgrade Program at Mt St John, clocking up 1 million hours free of lost time injury (LTI). The project is now at 1,075,000 hours LTI free.

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, located along one of the busiest carriageways in Australia, has achieved 100,000 hours free of major incidents since construction started in November 2010.

The Lavarack Barracks Townsville Enhanced Land Facility - Stage 1 was completed this year, also free of significant injury.

“Each year Baulderstone improves on its Safety Matters campaign with more and more employees and subcontractors taking leadership and implementing safety practices on site.

“Many subcontractors know that if they want to work for Baulderstone, they, too, must have a similar philosophy when it comes to health and safety.”

Other safety initiatives include the Spotters Device which alarms excavator drivers to avoid running into an object and Construction Hazard Assessment Talk (CHAT) which involves workers talking candidly about safety issues (which is recorded and viewed by Baulderstone’s executive).

Safety Matters is in line with the state government’s Zero Harm leadership campaigns.

Baulderstone’s Safety Matters campaign includes five steps to safety in construction:

1. Commitment and understanding by managers and workers of safety responsibilities.
2. Consultation and communication between all trades and contractors on site to ensure safety procedures and decisions are actively implemented.
3. Recognition safety is a journey that never ends - safe work procedures are constantly reviewed, updated and improved upon.
4. Training and supervision is field based and practical. Supervisors live and breathe safety procedures and are not office bound. Supervisors conduct CHATS to ensure everyone on site is aware of safety procedures.
5. Regular reporting of safety success and opportunities for safety improvement. If someone sees something unsafe, work is stopped, the incident reported and the procedure reviewed.