Warbud News

Warbud, currently holding presidency in the Agreement, hosted a Steering Committee Meeting. During the meeting which was held on September 14, two new construction companies - Karmar and Strabag became members of the Agreement on Construction Safety. Therefore the number of signatories has grown to twelve. Before that the Agreement consisted of Budimex, Erbud, Hochtief Polska, Mostostal Warszawa, Mota-Engil, Polimex-Mostostal, Porr Polska Infrastructure, Skanska, Unibep and Warbud. The objective of the Agreement is to increase safety levels on Polish construction sites and eliminate accidents, especially fatal accidents.

‘I am really glad that new companies playing a significant role in the Polish construction market have joined the Agreement. Thanks to that the group of companies involved in increasing safety levels has grown again and the platform for the exchange of our experiences and good practices has been extended. We also increase our impact on the subcontractors employed on our construction sites. All the members of the Agreement impose on their subcontractors identical requirements regarding occupational safety, implement new standards and build safety culture and awareness,’ said Jerzy Werle, Warbud SA’s Chairman.

Since the creation of the Agreement, that is since August 2010, a number of organisational solutions have been implemented in the field of occupational safety which are obligatory for all the members. Such solutions include among others  “Minimum standards for subcontractors", “Appendix to subcontracts regarding OHS”, guidelines to Methods of Work, periodic trainings for employees, the obligation to use safety goggles on every construction site as well as the “Safety Week”.

The newest project of the Agreement, which is being implemented in cooperation with Polish Social Insurance Agency ZUS, is the provision of free of charge periodic OHS trainings for small and medium sized construction companies operating in Poland. The trainings, which will be taking place from September to November 2016, have been prepared on the basis of the shared experiences of the members of the Agreement. The training curriculum is tailored to the needs of the construction industry and the topics cover linear works and construction of enclosed structures. The trainings are fully financed by the Social Security Institution ZUS using its funds for accident prevention. Participation in the trainings does not depend on meeting any additional conditions by firms.  The training sessions are an excellent opportunity to take part in obligatory periodic OHS trainings.

The operation of the Agreement is supported by the State Labour Inspection, Polish Association of Building Engineers and Technicians, “Budowlani” Trade Union, Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers and the Polish Chamber of Construction Engineers. The Agreement is open to new members from the construction industry who want to have their contribution in increasing safety levels in construction. Warbud has been leading the Agreement since 2016 in a 2-year term after Skanska and Budimex. You can find out more about the Agreement at www.porozumieniedlabezpieczenstwa.pl