The 1,000 person quota
Based on the 1,000 person quota, we look at the prevailing situation regarding work safety in the construction industry.
In our company, work safety is the immutable focus of our activities. We stand behind this attitude one hundred percent, because
We work safe — or not at all.
The full report is available here as PDF. Source: BG BAU aktuell, Ausgabe 4_2019
Safety through strategy
Winner of the German Work Safety Prize 2019 in the “Strategic” category
In 2019, we were one of three enterprises nominated for a prize in the “Strategic” category for our commitment to “work safety as a corporate philosophy”.
The prize, which is bestowed every two years to honor exemplary commitment to work safety and employee health at work, was then presented in November 2019. We prevailed over 231 competitors with exemplary management solutions. Our success: For years, our accident statistics have been well below the industry average.
We are pleased that our corporate philosophy convinced the independent jury based on the audits that were carried out. The conclusion: "Work safety as the cornerstone of a caring culture in an industry with traditionally high rates of accidents.”
In an interview with BG BAU aktuell which appeared in the November 2019 issue, you can read what resistance and barriers had to be overcome and how we implement our philosophy in concrete terms.
Safety through a common goal
We build safely — or we don’t build. At first, it may sound like a slogan by a clever ad agency, but we have lived it for over 20 years. It is the goal that binds us together and makes our company unique. We are convinced that, especially when it comes to work safety, we can only continue to improve with open and transparent communication. Openness is a matter of course. In our weekly, meetings, we talk about events on the construction site and the insights we have gained. Top management, project and construction management and safety specialists maintain regular communication.
Work safety through professional preparation
Safety from day one. Work safety concepts, risk assessments, work instructions (method statements): Only professional preparation of all site activities can ensure that work safety is successfully lived on the construction site from day one. To support construction and project management with this responsibility, we have created the “SHE-Q” department (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality), which works continuously to optimize safety on our sites. That way we can ensure that even the most difficult construction sites are safe places to work, and that accidents and negative press are prevented. On our sites, you receive a comprehensive project information packet on the respective construction project that is convenient to carry with you at all times.
Safety through tailored information on site
Every month, we conduct trainings for the entire on-site team at all of our construction projects. The topics follow the modules of BG Bau. They are complemented by our own topics, which are often generated through the report card system we have developed and based on example situations, near accidents or unsafe situations on one of our sites (“lessons learned”). Additionally, every employee does an “LMRA - Last Minute Risk Analysis” prior to starting work.
Safety through qualification and training
The initial and continued training of our employees is enormously important to us, because a high degree of safety can only be achieved through competence. We provide training for special qualifications ourselves. Our safety specialists in the QHSE department have taken part in a variety of training programs (e.g. BG Bau, TÜV etc.) in order to pass their knowledge on to colleagues under the “train the trainer” system. That way, the training sessions on “load lifting gear” and “PSA against falls” (PSAgA) in particular can be flexibly carried out at the construction sites. In regular trainings, our project and construction managers and foremen are educated on construction-related subjects as well as topics focusing specifically on work safety.
Safety through checking
Safety has many facets — one is ensuring that tools and equipment are in perfect condition. Trained specialists in our group regularly inspect all electrical equipment and all other tools like ladders, lifting and load handling equipment or personal protective gear against falls. In addition, our employees are qualified to check shut-off bladders and inflatable seals.
1. Platz beim Deutschen Jugend-Arbeitsschutz-Preis (JAZ) 2018 - Sicherheitslaufmatte für Bewehrungsflächen
1. Platz beim Deutschen Jugend-Arbeitsschutz-Preis (JAZ) 2016 - Leitersicherungsgestell
Mainka - Laufmatte für Bewehrungsflächen
Safety through innovation
Special recognition for especially good ideas:
In 2016, our former trainees Jan Neumann and Stefan Behnen won the German Youth Work Safety Prize. They were recognized for their “ladder safety rack”, which prevents ladders from slipping and toppling.
In 2018, the German Youth Work Safety Prize again went to Mainka. Our trainee team of Peter Berning, Malte Gösse and Christian Schleicher received the coveted award for their project “Safety mat for reinforcement“. The mat simply and efficiently secures walking paths on construction sites during the installation of reinforcement until the concrete is poured. It dramatically reduces the risk of tripping, snagging or twisting an ankle.
The inventiveness of our trainees shows how paramount the topic of work safety is in our company. We continuously work on new solutions for increasing construction site safety.
Apart from these extraordinary success stories, many ideas emerge out of our structured continuous improvement process, which also helps to significantly increase on-site work safety.
Quality/Certificates
The safety of your building project is our top priority. This is evidenced not only by our unparalleled low accident rates, but also by the certificates we have received. Our services and processes are constantly monitored — because work safety requires unwavering attention.
By the way: While other companies often have only small departments audited in order to earn a certificate, our certifications always apply to the entire company. Our customers do not need to check whether a service is being supplied by employees of a certified operational unit or not.