Construction BUSINESS

With 150,000 people working in construction in Ireland and the sector experiencing annual growth of 10%, a sustainable safety culture is critical to keeping people safe. The supply chain’s complexity and increased tiering means making sure all partners – from major contractors to sole traders – adopt a consistent safety approach to safely and efficiently deliver projects.

Jacobs recently brought together stakeholders from across the construction supply chain during its inaugural Safety Symposium at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Featuring presentations and panel discussions from leading experts including CEO of the Health and Safety Authority Dr. Sharon McGuinness, Jacobs Senior Vice President and Jacobs Global Head of Safety Catriona Schmolke, and Jacobs Culture Manager Europe Tom Parsons, the contributions spotlighted the need for collective responsibility and a collaborative approach to driving safety excellence across the industry,  as well as the far-reaching benefits of a sustainable safety culture.

Speaking at the Safety Symposium, Jacobs Vice President and General Manager Micheál O’Connor (pictured right) said: “Fostering a robust safety culture throughout the construction supply chain is fundamental to our collective success. Safety is the right way to execute work, not an add-on for consideration. At Jacobs, through our BeyondZero culture of caring, we are committed to driving safety excellence within and beyond our organisation.

“Our people – at every level of our business and across every function – are empowered to be accountable for their actions when it comes to health and safety, and the result is a win-win for colleagues and clients alike. This Safety Symposium marks another important milestone in our ambition to elevate our industry’s safety standards and reap the benefits that come with a commitment to keeping people safe.”

CEO of the Health and Safety Authority, Dr. Sharon McGuinness (pictured left) said: “Bringing together everyone in the business of construction is a really positive way for all stakeholders to collaborate and make the sector safer for all, and I very much welcome Jacobs showing leadership on this critical issue for the industry.

“Construction workplace deaths more than doubled last year from five to 12, and there really is no room for complacency. Having a strong safety culture in an organisation is vital and the leaders in the sector must drive and promote good health and safety practice.”

Themes discussed at the Safety Symposium were:

• The role leadership plays in driving a sustainable safety culture;
• How industry stakeholders can work together to pursue excellence in safety;
• How workplace culture can act as a catalyst for safety excellence, with people empowered to speak up without reprise;
• The need for workplace safety culture to support people’s well-being and mental health;
• The benefits that a shared focus on safety can deliver for all stakeholders.

Jacobs’ Irish operation is a global centre of excellence, employing more than 1,100 people in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. The company has nearly doubled its footprint in Ireland in the past five years as a result of growth in construction management, commissioning, qualification and validation.