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Specific hazards

We pay particular attention to specific occupational health risks relevant to our industry. These include:

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

A continued focus has been placed on monitoring and controlling HAVS in the UK in 2006.

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations, 2005, require strict control of exposure to vibration and regular health surveillance for relevant employees, enabling us to identify historical cases of HAVS and to observe new symptoms at an early stage. In 2006, HAVS questionnaires were completed by 4,700 (3,770 in 2005) UK employees. As a result, 62 cases of HAVS were identified in 2006, compared with 86 in 2005 and 59 in 2004. This reduction demonstrates the continued effort from operating companies in managing the risk associated with HAVS.

All operating companies have refined their management of vibration, and many have appointed champions to develop methods of reducing risks associated with HAVS. Selecting the right vibrating tools, colour coded tools marked with “traffic light” systems, monitored trigger times and working with a single tool provider are all used to control exposure to vibration.

In 2006, Mansell Construction and Haden Young continued to work closely with tool manufacturers to measure exposure time on common tasks associated with vibration risks.

Manual Handling

Musculo-skeletal disorders due to poor manual handling are a common hazard on site. We are addressing this in several ways: increased automation and use of mechanical aids, restrictions on what can be lifted manually and simple techniques such as splitting heavy support lintels in two to reduce their weight.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by exposure to noise at work continues to be a significant occupational disease – which is why regular hearing checks are vital in detecting and responding to early signs of damage.

In 2006, a total of 2,242 employees received audiometric testing across the group. In the UK, 3.5% of the 1,896 employees tested had their future duties restricted due to early signs of damage. In Europe, 20% of the 147 employees tested had their future duties restricted. None of the workforce in Malaysia or the US had their duties restricted on completion of hearing tests.

Stress

Stress is increasingly reported in the UK as a cause of work related illness and is a focus for UK regulators. Several of our businesses have introduced stress management arrangements, including counselling, stress awareness and stress recognition training. Counselling is offered to those affected by major incidents as a matter of course.

In-house workshops are used to raise awareness of stress related matters and potential workplace stressors, and training is provided to help managers identify potential workplace stressors at an early stage.

Alcohol and Drugs

We are determined to address potential health and safety problems caused by the possession or use of illegal drugs, and abuse of alcohol or other substances, such as solvents or medicines.

Testing is regularly conducted in the UK and US. In 2006, 8,937 such tests were carried out and of those tested 4% returned positive results.

In the UK, results over the last four years consistently show drugs to be a greater problem than alcohol. A similar trend over the previous three years in the US was reversed in 2006.

We encourage our operating companies to take a supportive stance towards those who acknowledge a problem, but to be uncompromising if workers are found to be in breach of the requirements of our Group policy established in 2002.

UK	No. of drug tests	No. of positive results	% of those tested	No. of alcohol tests	No. of positive results	% of those tested
2003	2,857	43	1.5	2,700	3	0.1
2004	950	28	3	931	2	0.2
2005	1,074	65	6	920	6	0.7
2006	3,213	128	4	3,224	7	0.2

USA	No. of drug tests	No. of positive results	% of those tested	No. of alcohol tests	No. of positive results	% of those tested
2003	1,395	40	3	444	1	0.2
2004	898	15	1.7	109	0	0
2005	2,579	102	4	361	1	0.3
2006	1,338	94	7	1,162	93	8

Substances Hazardous to Health

All operating companies continue to address the risks from handling and exposure to substances. Examples are sensitivity to cement, solvents and other chemicals.

One operating company (Balfour Beatty Utilities) has commissioned the Health and Safety Laboratory to conduct environmental exposure monitoring whilst lining domestic water supply pipes with a polymetric resin lining.

Asbestos

Our focus in 2006 has been on maintaining asbestos management plans and training programs on the recognition of asbestos. We operate a strict policy of leaving it to the accredited experts if uncharted asbestos is encountered.

Two operating companies undertake minor asbestos works in controlled conditions, for example removal of an asbestos boiler gasket. Any more major asbestos works are left to specialist contractors.

Occasionally, we encounter uncharted asbestos in buildings during refurbishment or maintenance activities. Any potential exposure is carefully managed, samples analysed and records kept. During 2006, on twenty one occasions uncharted asbestos in buildings was encountered. In all cases the asbestos containing materials had not been highlighted in either the asbestos management plan or site specific details.

Health Promotion

Some businesses also encourage a healthy lifestyle, beyond the workplace. Balfour Beatty Management has launched its healthy living policy and campaigns during 2006. Stent Foundations focused on raising the awareness of driver fatigue amongst company car drivers.

In Hong Kong, Germany, Spain and Austria the emphasis was on flu immunisation to address any potential risk from avian flu.

Smoking is another topical issue. No smoking campaigns were launched in several companies, in advance of the forthcoming changes to legislation.

Some companies have promoted healthy eating in their canteens.

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