Assurance

 

Assurance scope

Balfour Beatty engaged Sd3 to carry out an independent assurance of its Corporate Responsibility Report 2007, specifically covering the accuracy of data, data collection systems and procedures. The assurance covered UK environment data and global safety, health and diversity data for the 2007 calendar year. In addition, Sd3 has assured the written and visual interpretation of this data. The assurance did not cover the materiality of the issues reported on, or the appropriateness of the metrics chosen. The assurance was carried out in line with Sd3’s Assurance Code of Conduct. The Corporate Responsibility Report is the sole responsibility of Balfour Beatty. Sd3’s responsibility is to provide an independent assurance statement to stakeholders giving our professional opinion based on the scope and methodology described.

Methodology

Information provided in the report was checked through UK site visits, telephone interviews and e-mail correspondence. Sd3 reviewed all data aggregated at Group level and processes for checking and aggregating this data. Based on this review, Sd3 selected sample data sets and operating companies for further investigation. For the sample data sets Sd3 checked reported safety, health and environmental data back to the responsible party at the operating company level along with the recording processes. Four operating companies were sampled in greater depth for environmental data and four for health and safety. Diversity data was checked via a site visit to the Group headquarters.

Our Opinion

Based on the activities outlined, Sd3 found the environmental and diversity reporting systems to be sufficiently robust to collect data that provides a fair representation of the company’s performance in the metrics chosen. The calculation of air travel’s contribution to carbon dioxide emissions is an exception and Balfour Beatty have sensibly placed little reliance on it, although it is an important positive signal for the future. It is disappointing to find that Group environmental reporting processes were not always well embedded at the operating company level. This led to variation in the ease of data collection across the Group. Increased central support and the clarification of acceptable methodologies and definitions are recommended.

Safety reporting remained fairly consistent across the Group and provides evidence of continued improvement in most areas among the UK operating companies. Although the Tr@ction reporting system now ensures comprehensive and consistent data collection from all operating companies, we recommend more uniformity in the time taken to complete investigations into near miss incidents and of accidents involving members of the public. We recommend that Tr@ction includes a requirement to confirm that reportable incidents have been notified to the appropriate enforcing authority. We were unable to assure Health data as some details needed are not available for examination, being kept by individual operating companies under data protection restrictions. It is recommended that a Group-wide strategy be established for publishing details of health screening and its outcomes without compromising individuals’ privacy.

 

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