The competition between construction sites in the building industry for the safest construction site last year has been decided. In 2025, the competition was nationwide and the ranking of construction sites in Southwest Finland was decided in connection with the national competition. The level of safety competition was unprecedentedly tough.
YIT Housing Oy's Raisio Kertunlinna construction site came in fourth place in the national competition with a TR measurement result of 99,37 (maximum 100 points). This achievement also led to the victory in the regional occupational safety competition. In addition, Skanska Talonrakennus Oy's Wäinö Aaltonen Museum construction site came in tenth place in the national competition, second in Southwest Finland. A result of well over nine or ten points was required for this ranking.
Safety is evident even in small everyday actions
Work Manager at YIT Housing Oy Juha Haltia summed up with the management, which all contributed to the victory of the construction site. “Our good occupational safety results were primarily due to the fact that we did things together. Everyone on the construction site was committed to the same goals and to the fact that safety is reflected in even the smallest everyday actions. We kept the discussion open, shared observations immediately and solved challenges as a team and no one had to do it alone. When information flowed smoothly and everyone knew what to do, doing things safely was easy and natural. Regular rounds, active observation and the fact that we dared to speak out created a strong common way of working. The end result was a construction site where we looked after each other and where safety was not a separate issue, but a part of every working day,” he emphasizes.
The foreman responsible for the winning construction site was Aki Ahremaa and in the final stage Julia Glja-kova, as occupational safety and health representative Jarno Tuomela and as occupational health and safety manager Janne Heinonen.
Safe practices become part of everyday life
“Second place in the occupational safety competition is an important recognition for our long-term work,” says a delighted Skanska senior foreman. Riikka Levola. Skanska's goal is a safe, healthy and caring work community. At Skanska, we want everyone to go home safe and healthy after their workday.
“We decided at the beginning of the project that cleanliness and order are the foundation of everything – when the construction site is kept in good order, safety also improves. We appointed clear responsible persons for, for example, the maintenance of access roads and together we created a good team spirit in which we intervene constructively. We have strived for open discussion and an advisory approach so that safe operating methods become part of everyday life. The client’s active interest and participation in occupational safety measurements have supported this work. In addition, the regional HSE organization calibrates the measurements regularly, which ensures the quality of the operations. This whole process has led us to success in the competition,” says Levola.
Sakari Aalto was the responsible foreman at the Skanska construction site, Taija Ritola was the occupational safety representative, and Riikka Levola was the occupational safety manager.
Background of occupational safety competitions
A regional competition has been organized in Southwest Finland since 1991. The national Safety Starts with Me competition was organized for the first time in 2010. The aim of the competition is to find and highlight an exemplary safe building construction site. A construction site where everyone takes care of not only their own safety, but also that of their co-workers and everyone else. A construction site where the company's safety management is evident in all operations on the site.
More information
Esa Laine, Licensing and Supervision Authority, esa.laine@lvv.fi Terhi Mäkinen, Trade Union Pro, terhi.makinen@proliitto.fi
Jouni Ruotsalainen, Finnish Construction Association, jouni.ruotsalainen@rakennusliitto.fi
Katja Suovo, Finnish Building Construction Industry Association, katja.suovo@rt.fi