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Training

During 2006 we have continued to provide a high level of safety training across the Group to ensure the competence of each jobholder.

We measure the number of training days delivered to provide new and improved skills. We specifically exclude inductions and workplace briefings from training data.

Our record shows:

• 71% increase in UK training days in 2006 compared to 2005
• More than a three-fold increase in training days in our non-UK businesses, largely due to better reporting

Training days, 2001 - 2006

Year	UK Total days	Rest of World	Group Total days
2001	29,444	5,683	35,127
2002	31,680	8,292	39,972
2003	35,369	7,389	42,758
2004	44,611	6,259	50,870
2005*	30,938*	6,219*	37,157*
2006	52,839	21,950**	74,789

* 2005 data not comparable with previous years due to improved definition.

**Data includes US, Europe and Hong Kong

Leadership and management are vital for safety, and so a key focus during 2006 has again been safety training and development for managers at all levels, including:

• IOSH - Safety for Senior Executives: 49 directors and senior managers attended this programme of one-day courses examined by IOSH, during 2006; 232 have attended the programmes so far.
• Safety leadership courses have been organised in several operating companies.
• Accident investigation training has been given to 73 senior managers and principal investigators. A total of 534 have been so trained to date.
• Safety Management: Managers and Supervisors in various operating companies continue to receive safety management training, including: CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme [5 days], IOSH Managing Safely, and NVQ Courses at Levels 3, 4 and 5 in Safety Management, Building and Construction Supervision.
• Safety Auditing: an update on the Group Audit Protocol was provided to 48 senior managers and auditors and a further 23 received introductory training. This training is provided jointly by ourselves and DNV, to joint teams. A total of 108 Balfour Beatty people have been trained in this to date.

Balfour Beatty people have been trained in this to date.

Specific safety training

We continue to provide training on specific hazards, adding some new subjects during the year. Particular focus was given in 2006 to:

• Temporary traffic management
• Senior Manager Awareness of Safety Critical Systems
• Behavioural safety
• Manual handling
• Cable strikes
• Lifting operations
• Working at height, fall prevention and arrest equipment
• Vibration and Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
• Accident investigation and root cause analysis
• Mechanical Safe Systems of Work
• Asbestos awareness
• Trackback, ie hand back of the track after railway renewals and other work
• Infection control, correct hand washing and avoiding sharps for hospital workers
• Food hygiene and safe food handling for catering staff.

Our safety training extended also beyond our workers and into the community. In 2006, our Safety Advisors visited more than 170 UK schools in the vicinity of our projects to take the safety message to over 11,000 school children.

In Malaysia, prior to energising a new railway line, the construction team briefed 200 school students of the potential hazards of the energised system.

Competency

In the UK, programmes to ensure that all our managers, supervisors and operatives hold relevant recognised competency cards were extended and upgraded.

Most UK operating companies report full competence certification for both direct and indirect employees. In some cases subcontractors are still working to ensure that all their workforce hold the relevant recognised competency cards.

In the US, Balfour Beatty Construction Inc reported that 100% of their workforce hold the relevant recognised competency cards.

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