NCC to halve number of occupational accidents in two years

NCC Construction in Sweden has launched a plan aimed at halving the number of occupational accidents by 2007. At the same time, sickness absence is to be reduced by 5 percent.

With a concrete plan for work environment efforts, NCC aims to halve the number of occupational accidents at Swedish construction sites in the next two years. “More visible leadership and extensive information efforts will enable NCC to increase the safety of its construction sites,” says Carina Vestrin, Work Environment Manager at NCC Construction Sweden. NCC has revised the safety rules and regulations that apply at construction sites and will now launch a plan governing how compliance with these rules and regulations is to be followed up. In the past ten years, NCC has halved the number of accidents and in 2005 the number of accidents was 8.4 per million hours worked. “NCC has relatively few accidents at its construction sites, but we want to be an attractive employer and young people regard safety matters as extremely important,” Carina Vestrin explains. During 2006, NCC will focus on its safety rules and regulations, and on recuperation – with an emphasis on stress and diet. During 2007, the priority will switch to fall accidents and strain injuries. Fall accidents account for nearly 40 percent of all accidents resulting in more than one day of sickness absence. Five percent lower sickness absence Sickness absence within NCC has also been reduced significantly during recent years. NCC’s average sickness absence declined from 4.5 percent to 4.0 percent between 2004 and 2005. NCC saves SEK 3 million for each reduction in this figure by one tenth of a percent. “With 120 ‘wellness inspirers’ and dedicated efforts involving preventive healthcare, we will be able to reduce sickness absence by a further 5 percent in the next two years,” says Carina Vestrin. For further information, please contact: Carina Vestrin, Work Environment Manager, NCC Construction Sweden, +46 585 517 97, +46 702 45 80 94 Ulf Thorné, Press Relations Manager, NCC Group, +46 8 585 523 46, +46 70 214 77 27