At the occupational safety seminar of the Eastern Finland district of the building industry in Kuopio, construction and occupational safety professionals discussed the development of occupational safety in a panel discussion, presentations and, for the first time, a practical exercise of TR measuring ticks. Half a hundred representatives of construction companies and also subcontractor companies observed working methods, - tools, protective equipment and safety equipment at the 24 task grids of the Kuopio Occupational Safety training area.
On the panel, the director of the area of responsibility for occupational health and safety of the Eastern Finland Regional Administrative Agency Markku Rautio, property director of Kuopio University Hospital Mikko Hollmen, Regional Manager of the Construction Association Marko Niskanen, Savo Vocational College Tuomo Kettunen, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Matti Ylikärppä and Lujatalo Oy's occupational safety manager Ville Vatanen were quite unanimous about the biggest risks on construction sites, the means of combating them and areas for development of occupational safety.
An uncompromising and committed safety attitude in the entire chain of construction, avoiding tight schedules that increase risks, adequate orientation of new employees, strict monitoring of occupational safety regulations and good advance planning of the work phases emerged as key factors in reducing accidents and mitigating their consequences.
The challenges are, among other things, different construction sites, longer chains of contracts, weather conditions, fierce price competition for contracts, excessive workload of key personnel, deficiencies in planning, indifferent attitude, differences in the skills of the workforce and a low income threshold for the construction industry. The core issue was seen as the commitment of the companies' top management to occupational safety.
Work safety manager of Rakennusliike Lapti Oy Jukka Moilanen told about the in-depth induction process for new employees. According to him, enough time must be reserved for it, as well as competent and experienced people in charge, especially at the construction site level. Current special groups are summer employees and foreign workforce. Last year, 16 employees were trained in Lapt!
Occupational safety manager Ville Vatanen spoke with striking examples about the unimaginably large indirect costs, schedule delays, damage to reputation and, above all, human suffering caused by a death and serious injury.
Director Markku Rautio clarified the division of occupational safety responsibilities. He emphasized that the definition of responsibilities should be agreed in writing before anything happens and then act as agreed.
- Job title and title do not always automatically bring responsibility. It is vitally important to give sufficient resources and work tools to those responsible for occupational safety issues. Usually, the responsibility falls on the company's middle management and site managers, ultimately on the top management of the company - less often on the employees, unless they have committed negligence or intentionally acted against the instructions. The employer is also responsible for continuous monitoring of occupational safety.
Rewards for occupational safety merits
Construction group Skanska's Middle Finland unit awarded a subcontractor that excelled in occupational safety in the Kuopio area. The award went to Sähkö Jave Oy, an electrical work company with 30 employees. The CEO of Sähkö Jave received the certificate of honor and the welfare scholarship Jari Vepsäläinen and project manager Simo Airaksinen Head of the Skanska unit From Noora Sokero and the work manager From Niko Nousiainen.
- Sähkö Jave has received unanimously good feedback from our sites about the safe and high-quality execution of the work according to the plans. The company's uncompromising approach to safety issues and an open, supportive atmosphere have developed an exemplary safety culture.
- Construction is teamwork. Safety activities concern everyone who works at our sites. Subcontractors can, for example, take our occupational safety courses on the Internet. We also invite subcontractors and partners to occupational safety-related trainings and events, said Noora Sokero.
According to Jari Vepsäläinen, CEO of Sähkö Jave, working with large construction companies has helped me learn about occupational safety culture and practical measures.
- It is good that the main contractors demand uncompromising job security from the subcontractors. Attitude and persistence are central to that. In the strictly standardized electrical work industry, there are many risks for both your own and other employees. We have not had any major accidents at work.
In addition, the area manager of the Eastern Finland District of the Building Industry Kimmo Anttonen awarded by the occupational safety inspector of the Eastern Finland Regional Administration Office Jukka Hartikainen about good official supervision and its development to today's challenges.
Anttonen emphasized the importance of closer cooperation and dialogue between customers, main contractors and subcontractors, suppliers and others operating and visiting construction sites.
- Construction in Finland is becoming more subcontractor-oriented, which is why there are more and more different company cultures and operating methods on construction sites. In occupational safety matters, they and a good attitude must be harmonized and at least meet the provisions of the law. The development of accidents at work in recent years has not been commendable. Their frequency is still far from zero.
Text and images:
Ilpo Lommi