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Occupational health

• Zero early retirements or fatalities due to work related ill health
• Absence monitoring in place since 1997
• Each UK employee absent for six days on average in 2006
• 1% of absence was due to work related ill health, 2% in 2005
• 5,233 employees received occupational health screening across the Group in 2006
• National occupational health support services provision established in 2006
• Stress management arrangements further enhanced 2006

Our Approach

Our aim is to ensure that no harm to our employee’s health occurs as a result of our activities.

Occupational ill-health typically arises from prolonged exposure to a condition or substance, or repeated undertaking of an activity. In the construction industry, causes of occupational health conditions include asbestos, manual handling, skin conditions arising from exposure to hazardous substances, noise exposure, vibration risks and more recently stress.

During 2002 we reviewed our approach to occupational health, and in 2004 and 2005 increased the focus on managing occupational health systematically and effectively in our operating companies.

Our current focus is on:

• Regular health screening to identify early symptoms of work related ill-health, and
• The control of activities that have the potential to impact on workers health.

Several operating companies have contracted professional occupational health service providers to review their specific arrangements.  For example, Balfour Beatty Utilities has commissioned environmental exposure monitoring on their PU lining operations.  Balfour Beatty Power Networks have commissioned an independent review of their occupational health arrangements.  Recommendations will be used to develop enhanced occupational health programmes.

We measure sickness absence data, to provide a Group-wide view of the nature and scale of occupational health problems among our workforce. This will help us focus on priorities.

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