Child pedestrian casualties remain the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among 5 to 14 year olds in Great Britain. More than 69 percent of all children killed on its roads are pedestrians. Yet, this area is lagging behind in casualty reduction.

This is why I am extremely passionate about my research investigating the factors that result in increased casualty risk associated with male children. I firmly believe that increasing the knowledge behind the causes for child pedestrian casualties will help to implement new safety guidance to reduce child deaths on our roads, which is vital to helping to reduce overall accident statistics.

During my final year of university, I researched the relationship between gender and pedestrian casualty rates of children ages 0 to 15. Previous studies implicated gender as a potential risk factor, suggesting that male children were at an increased risk of injury. However, no research was found specifically relating to gender and its impact on child pedestrian casualties.

Percentage of children injured in pedestrian-vehicle collisions within six local authorities of the U.K. 

The methodology used logistic regression modelling, producing statistically significant evidence suggesting that younger casualties were more likely to be male. Further findings suggest that males are more at risk when crossing away from pedestrian crossings, as well as crossing while masked by a parked vehicle. In regards to vehicle manoeuvre, this study found that males have an increased risk when a car is slowing, stopped or waiting.

Flowchart depicting the research methodology used in the study.

The reasoning behind this is complex and, ultimately, the findings are a result of behaviour, intellectual and cognitive development, risk taking and hazard perception differences in males and females. Thus, males make different, more-hazardous road safety decisions and ultimately, this increases male casualty numbers.

While it is not possible to design infrastructure for males and females separately, I do believe that we can use my research to help alter our approach to education. I believe that males and females should be educated in different ways in order to target specific risk factors associated with each gender, thus helping to improve all casualty rates.

Since carrying out this study, I have presented my findings to a number of target audiences, including the Society of Road Safety Auditors. I am hopeful that through further investigation, this study will help civil engineers design safer road networks for use by the younger generation.

I believe that civil engineers have a duty to ensure that every design is as safe as possible for all users. In order to do this, we must continue to adapt and learn from vital research being done on this subject. If each of us makes it our duty to learn from the data, then I am positive we will create a safer environment for everyone.

Lindsey McConnell is a civil engineering graduate working in ArchTam’s highways sector. After falling in love with Newcastle in England while visiting her sister, Lindsey left Northern Island and moved to the city to study. She graduated in July 2014 with a first-class master’s degree from Newcastle University and is currently working on publishing her first paper on this topic.
LinkedIn: Lindsey McConnell

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It seemed obvious to her. She was working in direct contact with a hazardous substance, and she had the classic symptoms of lead poisoning — abdominal pain, headaches, dizziness, fatigue — meaning her condition was potentially fatal. She reached a logical conclusion that her work on an old tailings site had compromised her nervous system.

As the health and safety manager at the time, I conducted an investigation into the control factors, the potential routes of entry, frequency of exposure, dust levels and the lead concentrations in the tailings. The reality was that there would have had to be a desert-like dust storm in northern Canada for staff to be exposed to anything even close to the occupational exposure limits for lead. The medical examination was also conclusive in revealing that her actual blood lead levels were far below those of a normal person. It turned out she did not have lead poisoning.

Sadly, this conclusion was made only after she had made herself sick with worry. It was a conclusion that should have been reached before work on site had started.

It might be surprising to learn that hazardous chemicals and substances cause the death of anywhere between 600 to 900 workers every year in New Zealand. There are an additional 20,000 to 30,000 new cases of occupational disease in New Zealand reported every year. These numbers are not unique to New Zealand; most developed countries face the same daunting numbers.

Compare the numbers of occupational illness fatalities to the officially reported 75 people who are fatally injured every year in New Zealand as a result of physical hazards at work. This number is easier to count and the hazards are easier to see.

The physical risks of a crushing machine, a sharp blade, mobile equipment, a deep pit or work on a high ledge are obvious to everyone. Furthermore, we intuitively know how to control these hazards with guards and barriers. We understand the importance of documenting this and training workers so everyone knows what they need to do and how they are protected.

Unlike the physical risks, hazardous substances are silent killers; some can seriously hurt you before you see anything, smell anything, or feel anything. Some you don’t even realise have caused damage until years later. The risks associated with hazardous substances (like lead, asbestos, benzene, hydrogen sulphide, arsenic, PCBs, fertilizers, and chlorine) are invisible and mysterious to most people.

“Health” has had a place next to “safety” (occupational health and safety) for years in New Zealand and around the world. But, if we are going to change the statistics and save our workers from chronic illnesses, acute poisons and premature deaths, we need to rethink the meaning and application of health and safety.

The simplest way to make this shift is to start treating the risks associated with hazardous substances in the same way we treat physical hazards. What are you exposed to, and how can we guarantee that you are protected? What information needs to be on a label or package? What training or education needs to be provided?

To address this imbalance, the Independent Taskforce for Health and Safety in New Zealand noted that there was a lack of accessibility to information associated with hazardous substances, and this was confounded by a lack of government accountability.

The taskforce called for serious reform to educate employers, protect employees and others as well as improve our ability to monitor occupational illness and disease. And now, the new regulator WorkSafe New Zealand and the new legislation, the proposed Health and Safety at Work Act, are poised to enact major changes based on these recommendations.

The new regulations will fully embrace the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals — the single internationally agreed system of chemical classification and hazard communication through labelling and Safety Data Sheets.

Compliance with this new legislation will result in sweeping changes. It is hoped that these changes will help avoid situations like that of the Australian hairdressing employees who suffered from skin irritations and respiratory illnesses as a result of what they thought was keratin hair straightening products. In this case, the product labels were written in Arabic. Once interpreted, it was discovered that the products were actually fabric softener containing carcinogenic formaldehyde.

As part of this shift, we all need to consider our individual responsibilities in the supply chain or lifecycle of hazardous substances. Under the new act, Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) will replace the term “employer,” reminding us that there are often multiple employers and stakeholders that need to work together to manage the health of workers.

Everyone has a role to play — from the manufacturer of a substance to the designer of the vessel, and from the transporter of the material to the PCBU whose workers are using, handling, or storing a hazardous substance or chemical. What do you know about a substance that needs to be passed to the next person in the chain to ensure everyone is protected?

And it’s not just those chemicals that come in bottles. There are health risks for people at abandoned mine sites, landfills or dump sites, and for those who work in old abandoned buildings or at sites where there is naturally occurring radiation. Regardless of the form hazardous substances can take, our obligation to review the hazards and controls, communicate the risks to those affected and confirm appropriate mitigation measures, equipment and emergency support is still the same.

Everyone has a right to go home safe and free from acute harm at the end of each day. But everyone also has a right to a long life, free from chronic illness, lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, nervous system disorders, asbestosis, lead poisoning — and other diseases often caused by encounters with hazardous substances. I am forever thankful for my free lesson in northern Canada. But I often wonder — what if the story had ended differently?

Wendi Croft is the safety, health & environment manager for ArchTam’s New Zealand operations. She has more than 15 years of experience as a safety professional; an environmental scientist; and a leader in business excellence, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. She is an elected member of the WasteMINZ Health and Safety Steering Committee, an appointed member of WorkSafe New Zealand’s Hazardous Substances Guidance Group, chair of the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum’s Technical Advisory Group and a consultant on the WorkSafe New Zealand Specialist Consultancy Panel.
LinkdIn: Wendi Croft

References:

McAllister, S, Derrett, S, Audas, R, Herbison, P, and Paul, C. (2013). ‘Do different types of financial support after illness or injury affect socio-economic outcomes? A natural experiment in New Zealand’. Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 85, pp 93-102.
Pearce, N, Dryson, E, Feyer, A-M, Gander, P, McCracken, S and Wagstaffe, M (2004). The Burden of Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand: Report to the Associate Minister of Labour. NOHSAC: Wellington.
Statistics New Zealand (2010).
INDEPENDENT TASKFORCE ON WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY April 2013
Working Safer: A blueprint for health & safety at work, gov’t of NZ, August 2013

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I began my career in underground mining in the coal mines of Western Pennsylvania, United States. Safety was paramount and essential in order to survive in the harsh work environment, and I owe a lot of what I’ve learned to the coal industry and the miners who helped keep me safe. I learned the value of strong safety systems, compliance with regulations and the benefit of employee involvement in reducing injuries — all before I became a safety professional. I’m very proud of having been a coal miner and, due to my deep respect for safety, I jumped at the opportunity to become a full-time safety professional when I changed my career from mining to the construction industry.

Based on my experience in underground mining, enhancing ArchTam’s culture of caring has been key to my role as the chief safety officer at ArchTam. As the company strives to lead our industry in safety, health and environment performance, our expectation is that all of our employees actively participate in ArchTam’s Safety for Life program and are not only their own personal safety managers, but also look out for their colleagues — as many of my fellow coal miners did for me. Employees are also encouraged to support our efforts by making observations of conditions in the office and field as well as reporting and investigating near misses.

ArchTam has made great progress in reducing the frequency and severity of incidents. We can attribute this improvement to several factors, including support from executive and senior leaders as well as a focus on leading indicators that concentrate on processes for incident prevention.

We also continue to develop our systems, processes and tools to improve our ability to support our global operations with a particular focus on risk assessment and employee training. As a result, we have seen a significant reduction of injuries.

Another factor that has contributed to our success has been the addition of talented safety professionals. With the addition of URS and Hunt Construction, ArchTam now has more safety-trained supervisors than many other companies in the world. In addition, we now have more certified safety professionals than many of our competitors. This combination of trained supervision and licensed safety professionals forms the foundation for ArchTam’s Safety, Health and Environment (SH&E) group to perform at a world-class level.

However, with such a large workforce, a challenge we now face is ensuring that we are providing a safe work environment for all employees. The risk profile of the legacy URS and legacy Hunt projects is far more complex than the majority of ArchTam’s previous projects. Since both legacy URS and Hunt self-perform construction to build their projects, this means that our direct-hire employees have exposure to construction hazards that, if not mitigated properly, could cause serious injury.

In addition, as projects become more technically complex, we are challenged to identify new methods to mitigate risk. For example, some of the new roof designs for sports arenas and buildings in the Middle East present challenges related to constructability. To address this, we are using our skills in design safety to mitigate these risks and to work with our project management staff on constructability practices, which incorporate safety practices to reduce risk to construction personnel.

Despite these inherent challenges, ArchTam’s SH&E team has accomplished a lot over the past year. For example, becoming a member of the Campbell Institute is a high honor for our company as it recognizes our SH&E best practices among top organizations. We’re also very proud that our Chairman and CEO Mike Burke was selected for the U.S. National Safety Council’s “CEOs Who ‘Get It’ ” list for his dedication to building a strong culture of safety at ArchTam. Personally for me, winning an ArchTam CEO Award was extremely gratifying as it acknowledges all of our employees for their dedication to our Safety for Life program.

A personal safety achievement that I am proud of is being named chairman of the Safety Management Visiting Committee by my alma mater, West Virginia University. As chairman, my aim is to increase enrollment in the university’s Safety Management Program — especially given the worldwide shortage of safety professionals.

By advertising to undergraduate students early on about what a rewarding career safety can be along with the unlimited opportunities it provides, I believe we can continue to grow the pipeline of safety professionals to fill this global void. I’m also looking forward to helping plan the first Safety Symposium in the university’s history featuring leading experts from across the United States. Held in October, the symposium will be attended by employees across various industries in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Please join me in celebrating ArchTam’s third-annual Safety Week by checking out the ArchTam Impact blog posts from our global safety professionals as well as the winner of ArchTam’s safety video competition below.

ArchTam Chief Safety Officer Andy Peters has more than 35 years of experience in safety management, loss prevention and human resources, and is responsible for ArchTam’s global SH&E programs. He played college football for Bobby Bowden, a famous American football coach, and in 1973, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the West Virginia University old-timers game versus the University of Pittsburgh.

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In my first real job, I worked on environmental education projects at Parque Estadual da Cantareira (Cantareira State Park) in Brazil. At the time, I lived very close to the area and was just finishing high school. In addition to helping me pay for college, the job was also a great opportunity  to work with children and learn the business.

After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, I began working as an intern at an air quality consulting firm. I was responsible for conducting industrial hygiene assessments, which was my first exposure to working on safety projects. I remember my first survey was at a foundry, where the work involved melting metals into liquids that were then poured into a mold. Once you remove the mold material or casting, the metal solidifies as it cools. At the site, employees wore all applicable personal protective equipment (PPE) that included a face cover. Although I couldn’t see any of the employees during the normal shift, I made it a point to reach out to them during lunchtime. This became a routine way for me to connect with the employees and exchange life experiences, as well as discuss any safety problems they encountered during work.

At that point, I realized just how important and exciting it was to be able to take care of people by helping to improve their work conditions, keep them safe, and ensure they return home smiling at the end of the day. This is core to ArchTam’s safety culture and overall culture of caring. Beginning in 2005, I rendered services for a legacy ArchTam company in Brazil, and as the firm’s strong focus on safety resonated with me, I later joined the firm as an employee in 2012.

In my role as the safety, health and environment area manager for ArchTam, I work to manage the company’s safety program across 10 different countries with 10 totally different cultures, laws and requirements. As with any geography, there is also variety from client to client. For example, in Brazil, all PPE must be approved by the Ministry of Labor Department, so we are not allowed to use any PPE without this specific certification. Meanwhile, in other countries, there is no specific requirement about local certification.

However, the most interesting challenge working in Latin America is trying to keep everyone on the same page while respecting each person’s culture. My belief that culture is an educational process has helped me to overcome many of these challenges. I focus on ensuring that there is improvement every single day at every moment. However, it is also a trust-based process because your team must believe in you first. My feeling is that if you really believe in what you’re saying, doing or requesting, then employees will follow your lead, regardless of the issue.

Again, safety is an educational process, which means sometimes you must be more direct — even with your people or with a client. In my opinion, if you see or are made aware of any inadequate behavior, the best way to fix the problem is to have an open and honest conversation with the person. This will help you better understand why this kind of behavior was exhibited as well as properly explain safety issues. However, it’s also important to remember that, in any situation, you must first respect the other person.. You must understand the employee’s side of the story in order to help them fully embrace the safety culture and, then, you must be clear in communicating requirements.

I thoroughly enjoy what I do on a day-to-day basis and, since my career chose me, I’m happy to say it’s one of the best choices I never made.

Sandra Barana works as a chemical and safety engineer in ArchTam’s environment group, and is the safety, health and environment (SH&E) area manager for Latin America; the practice leader for the SH&E auditing department in Brazil; as well as the São Paulo office regional manager. Nowadays, her main hobby is taking care of her two-year-old daughter. She is married and also has five dogs and one chinchilla — a big family.
LinkedIn: Sandra Barana

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I began my safety, health and environmental (SH&E) career with an ArchTam legacy company more than 17 years ago. During my career, I have had the opportunity to support clients across multiple industries — such as automotive, power, chemical, manufacturing, oil and gas, and nuclear waste remediation — in varying roles of SH&E responsibility. My first opportunity to work in a lead role was with an automotive client on a body shop addition in New Jersey. This project occurred early in my career and demonstrated what a team focused on employee safety and health could accomplish. Our construction leadership team took hands-on ownership of the safety program, and we were able to complete the project with only one minor first-aid case and zero recordable injures.

Rigging image on project site.

In my current role at ArchTam as industrial process business unit SH&E director, it is my responsibility to assist leaders with establishing a safety culture focused on the behaviors and leading indicators that we believe will lead to outstanding lagging indicator performance. As background, leading indicators are focused on future safety performance and continuous improvement, while lagging indicators measure past accident statistics to indicate progress toward compliance with safety rules. Within my role, I support multiple projects and programs for the oil, gas and chemical; industrial manufacturing; and facilities management markets. However, my dedication to safety expands beyond the workplace.

As an active member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) at the federal and local levels, I work on the ASSE’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) to positively influence government decisions that impact the SH&E profession. I also help the committee, as well as the overall organization, ensure that any decisions by federal or state government impacting the safety, health and environment of the workplace is based on reliable science and sound technology. As a member of the GAC, I review proposed regulations that effect the SH&E profession to assist ASSE in crafting a position. I also routinely meet with Senate and Congressional staffers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Chemical Safety Board to help advance ASSE as well as the SH&E profession.

From a thought leadership perspective, I participate on the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Safety Committee. CURT is an owner organization jointly working with select contractors to improve safety performance on construction projects and drive incidents, injuries and fatalities to zero. This committee is an industry leader in SH&E knowledge sharing. Currently, I am working on the Leading Indicator White Paper Subcommittee, helping companies develop a safety culture based on leading metrics that drive the behaviors that are needed to establish exceptional safety performance.

Mentoring the next group of leaders in the SH&E profession is of primary importance to me. As a member of Oakland University’s Occupational Safety and Health Program Advisory Board — consisting of safety and health professionals who help steer the program to meet industry needs — I work to provide students with direction, mentoring and advice on the SH&E profession.

Overall, I believe that the success of ArchTam and all similar companies begins with the elimination of personal injuries, occupational illnesses, damage to equipment and property, the prevention of pollution and the protection our most vital resource — our employees.

Jeffrey Dennis is the SH&E director of the industrial process business unit in ArchTam’s energy, infrastructure and industrial construction group. He has more than 18 years of experience with safety and health, supporting various clients and projects in the industrial/commercial industries.
LinkedIn: Jeffrey Dennis

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At this point, I had no experience in the safety, health and environment (SH&E) field, but I quickly realised that the project lacked proper planning, personal protective equipment (PPE) and risk assessment. So, I did my first-ever risk assessment, ordered PPE and ensured everyone was aware of the plan as well as the risks involved and how to mitigate them. This taught me some important lessons, such as the dangers of excavation work, and the importance of training, PPE and regular safety briefings to share observations, possible risks and incidents.

Once I returned to the U.K., this experience led to me landing an SH&E and quality position with a legacy ArchTam company in 2011. Safety training is still high on my agenda; I track and trace employees’ SH&E training with the aim to have all employees properly trained for their jobs, so they can return home safely at the end of each day.

As a keen traveller, I am also highly involved in travel safety, which is a very wide-ranging area that can include everything from strikes and minor riots in safe countries to writing up safe work plans for projects in countries affected by the Ebola virus as well as providing best practices in avoiding the possibility of encountering land mines when working in the field in specific developing countries.

However, safety is more than a job; it’s about social responsibility. Once involved, you find yourself intervening in possibly dangerous situations on your commute, at your gym, while walking past a building site, during house renovations, and in many other situations. Just the other morning on my cycle commute to work; I had to stop a cyclist in front of me as he was not paying attention to the left-turning vehicles. By shouting out, I managed to get him to stop 2 to 3 centimetres away from being hit by a left-turning heavy goods vehicle. In another situation, my newly opened gym had a few safety issues, in particular, failing to realise how dangerous wet and slippery floors can be. So, I pointed this out to them and suggested some practical solutions — many of which have been implemented.

By focusing on safety and changing behaviours in the workplace and at home, many lives can be saved. However, safety is not only about saving lives. Safety enhances quality of life, reduces stress and cuts down on injuries and illnesses in the work place and at home. We should all return home at the end of the day relaxed and uninjured by adopting safety behaviours — and I strongly believe this is possible.

Eva Jonsson is a safety, health and environment coordinator/environmental lead on ArchTam’s Europe, Middle East and Africa design and consulting services team. She is based in London but originally is from Sweden. When she’s not working, she is usually found climbing, cycling, diving, running, contorting into a weird yoga position or travelling the world.
Linkedin: Eva Jonsson

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Under my leadership, more than 40,000 HGVs and 14,000 vans have been fitted with bespoke safety equipment, and more than 8,200 drivers have received intensive road-safety training. The haulage and construction industries have also invested millions of pounds into new safety equipment to meet Crossrail’s requirements, including fitting vehicles with side under-run guards and blind spot detection equipment to protect vulnerable road users such as cyclists. This means that safety standards are being improved, not just in London, but across the U.K.

It makes me feel very proud that many of the safety initiatives established on the Crossrail Programme are now considered to be best industry practices, and other clients and organisations responsible for similar programmes are beginning to adopt these initiatives. This includes big infrastructure projects such as the HS2 and Thames Tideways Tunnels projects, where I have shared best practices and lessons. In addition, organisations such as Cambridge University are replicating these safety initiatives to improve safety for cyclists during major construction works. I’d like to believe that my passion and drive for safety have made a real difference in the transportation industry and road safety in general.

I have designed, developed and implemented several initiatives that collectively contribute towards reducing risk in Crossrail’s supply chains. The hope is that these projects have raised awareness, improved decision making, influenced behaviour and engaged key external stakeholders.

My efforts in setting up these initiatives and driving Crossrail’s progress have been rewarded with two highly regarded safety awards in the sector — being named a winner of the Transport and Logistics Safety Award in 2012, and of the Brake Fleet Award for Safer Vehicles in 2013. Earlier, these efforts also received the Target Zero Peoples Award for Safety in 2011. In addition, Crossrail continued to show its appreciation by nominating me for the Member of the British Empire (MBE) award at the Queen’s 2014 Birthday Honours for my services to road safety, which I was later selected to receive. For these awards and achievements, I am truly honoured and eternally grateful.

What’s even more exciting is that Transport for London facilitates an initiative called Construction Logistics for Cycle Safety (CLOCS) — much of which is based on the work for Crossrail. CLOCS is becoming an industry standard and has huge support from public- and private-sector organisations responsible for dozens of large construction projects in London and beyond.

I do this work because I feel like I make an impact every day when I can help keep our roads safe and keep as many people as possible out of harm’s way.

Michael Heduan is a regional director within ArchTam”s transportation group. He has an extensive background in transportation with more than 40 years of experience under his belt and many honorable achievements and awards that validate his work ethic.

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I think it’s extremely important to go the extra mile to promote ArchTam’s culture of caring, so I make it a point to engage with staff at all levels to recognize good behaviours as well as areas of improvement. For example, I take the time to follow up with staff on submitted incidents and observations to further drive the company’s strong behavioural safety culture and encourage participation. I strongly believe in ArchTam’s “demonstrated management commitment” Life-Preserving Principle, so I constantly challenge company leaders to demonstrate their personal commitment to health, safety and wellbeing to ensure they set the right example for others to follow. However, I ensure that I always bring my own unique, pragmatic and humorous approach to epitomize ArchTam’s safety culture.  Whilst health, safety and wellbeing are no laughing matter, there is still room to bring a smile to people’s faces whilst delivering a serious message, for example, by using spoof images of crazy health and safety situations. Many of my colleagues have responded well to these initiatives.

I have also undertaken approximately 20 Safety Training in Accident Reduction Techniques (START),training sessions across the U.K., engaging leaders at all levels in our behavioural safety culture. We are not going to change the world overnight, but each incremental gain is a step in the right direction — whether it’s encouraging employees to take a short break away from their desk at lunchtime or to avoid mobile or text distractions when walking around the office.

As the lead Managing ArchTam Projects (MAP) trainer across ArchTam’s U.K. and Ireland group, I have the opportunity to meet with large numbers of project managers to share the benefits of ArchTam’s Safety for Life program as well as its culture of caring message. This has a significant impact on many of the projects we work on within the U.K. and Ireland.

One of my most-memorable contributions thus far was when I managed to recruit (through repeated nagging) 75 percent of the water business line’s leadership team in the U.K. to grow moustaches in “Movember” to support cancer charities and men’s health programs. This initiative hits home for me because, in my experience, I’ve found that many men aren’t very good at talking about their health and often put off seeking medical diagnosis and shrug off minor symptoms. Growing a moustache for a month is a great conversation starter and helps highlight and promote men’s health charities. It is a personal sacrifice as well since my wife refuses to kiss me whilst I have the moustache.

In addition to supporting the Movember campaign, I have led annual office activities surrounding ArchTam’s safety week during April. Last year, lunchtime walks (as seen in the picture above) were the activity of choice and encouraged staff to take a break from their desks. This year, I plan to highlight the value in everyone developing a Personal Safety Action Plan, a goal-setting tool that assists employees with reducing the risks associated with unsafe situations and environments in their professional and personal lives. The PSAP helps employees to plan, share and act together at work and at home as well as to truly engage in a strong behavioural safety culture.

Andy Yarde, a project delivery director in ArchTam’s water group, is based in ArchTam’s Leeds office in the U.K. He has more than 20 years of industry experience.
LinkedIn: Andy Yarde

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I am grateful to have worked in the construction industry at a time when safety concerns are very prevalent, as the values I have learned from my coworkers and mentors are irreplaceable. If I see something unsafe, then saying or doing something about it is not a question in my mind. I have leaders and coworkers who are receptive to feedback and to encouraging safety in the workplace, which I find exceptional.

I believe that a safe working culture is learned, taught and practiced. It is not a “common sense” skill that everyone has. I want to know that the person beside me is willing to work with everyone’s wellbeing in the forefront of his or her mind — and that is prevalent at ArchTam and one of the many reasons I enjoy working here. However, it’s also incredibly important for me to set the example because if I see something and don’t correct it, through conversation or action, someone may not make it home. We cannot only be concerned with ourselves or what’s directly in front of us; we need to be concerned about the safety of everyone in our working environment. And this is the essence of ArchTam’s culture of caring and Safety for Life program.

As part of the team constructing the new Ipiatik Lake 167S substation in Northern Alberta, Canada, I have had many opportunities to use the safe work practices our team has developed. Whether it is using a boom truck to install steel structures or operate equipment in tight quarters, I know our people will be safe. Working at ArchTam, I cannot even imagine a work environment where I would be asked to complete a task using an unsafe method or tool.

The industry’s transition from “Get it done!” to “Can it be done safely?” in the workplace has been something I am extremely happy to have witnessed. Thankfully, gone are the days of sharing stories of something happening that could have easily been prevented and then not working to correct the process.

The purpose of the Ipiatik project is to help meet increasing industrial demand for power. Working with high voltage comes with high risks and no second chances, so I am thankful that I am able to work with a crew and company that support good habits and safety. The guidance and mentorship received at ArchTam have been invaluable to my growth as an electrician and as a coworker. I am surrounded by people who are not afraid to offer suggestions or teach me ways to improve myself, and I am very thankful to work here.

Stephen Thomson is currently the quality control lead for ArchTam’s high-voltage services group based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He has a wife, a daughter, two dogs and a cat. He enjoys travelling, working on cars and spending time with his family.
LinkedIn: Stephen Thomson

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ArchTam staff donated a fleet of brand new BMX bikes to the school, and we teach cycle skills to the Year 5 and 6 students on an ongoing basis. This programme is the first of its kind in New Zealand and gives children the opportunity to participate in monthly cycling skills and exercise programmes. Given the declining trends in cycling, beginning at an early age to teach children that cycling can be both fun and safe is extremely important — especially the part about safety.

You might remember in 1994 when it became law to wear a bike helmet in New Zealand. The hope was to reduce the number of serious cycling injuries and fatalities. At the time, an average of 21 people every year were dying on our roads.

While the next 10 years after 1994 saw a 50-percent drop in cyclist deaths, New Zealanders also cycled 50 percent less; effectively, fatality rates were unchanged. From this, it’s reasonable to conclude that the helmet law didn’t actually help reduce the risk, but rather only served to discourage the use of bicycles.

Should this be any surprise to those who understand safety factors? Helmets are just Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) after all — the last line of defence in any safety system. Just like a hard hat worn by a construction worker, the only guaranteed way to protect the worker is to eliminate or isolate the worker from the hazard in the first instance.

So what is the solution in the context of cycling? Some people blame cyclists, some blame drivers, some blame roads, and some blame all three! Some might like to argue that the only way to reach zero cyclist fatalities is to have zero cyclists on the road but, interestingly, New York City achieved zero fatalities by doing just the opposite.

In 2013, when New York City had an average of 20 cycling-related fatalities per year, the decision was made to make 6,000 bikes available to New Yorkers at 300 stations around the city. Soon enough, the number of trips taken by cyclists had tripled, and the number of fatality rates had dropped to zero. More cyclists meant everyone had to get used to sharing the road.

New York’s experience is just one of the reasons why cities and countries around the world are encouraging more cycling, not less. A city with a large population of regular cyclists is proving to be healthier, community minded, more efficient, more economically viable, more environmentally responsible, and, surprisingly, safer for all residents. Personally, I love riding my cycle into work along Auckland’s waterfront on the shared cycle path. Yes, it’s beautiful, and the exercise and freedom are a definite bonus, but it’s the cost I like the best. If I ride my bike, I don’t have to pay for public transport or parking (ArchTam even provides free bike cages, lockers and showers), and I don’t have to find time or money for exercise classes.

Sadly, when I tell people I cycle to work, I get the same response: “You are so brave!” It is a stark reminder that the number one barrier to cycling is safety. But whose responsibility is it to ensure my safety as I cycle on public transport routes alongside other commuters and drivers heading to their jobs?

This is why the Rongomai Cycle Programme is a great way to teach our children the importance of cycle safety, while promoting the benefits of cycling as well. The more awareness that is brought to our future and current cyclists, the more likely we will be accepting of them on our roads.

Set to be in force in late 2015, the Health and Safety Reform Bill is poised to change the face of safety and make the responsibilities far more wide-reaching and all encompassing. Under the proposed act, all Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) will have an obligation for the health and safety of those affected by their activities — including cyclists. This obligation will extend to all New Zealand employers, contractors, designers, manufacturers, importers, construction companies, truck drivers and government agencies.

So what does this mean? Car manufacturers may develop alarm sensors to detect the presence of people on the road. Transport trucks may be fitted with mirror extensions and side guards. And where PCBUs don’t act, it means the regulators can step in. London is already proposing a full ban on all trucks that are not equipped with this basic safety equipment.

Fortunately, we have already started on this journey. Transport agencies, construction companies and integrated infrastructure firms like ArchTam are already starting to consider people who cycle and provide comprehensive cycling infrastructure, including purpose-built cycleways in their urban-design and transport-planning work.

Auckland’s first urban cycleway is nearly complete and will connect the downtown to the Northwest Cycleway via the newly constructed Grafton Gully Cycleway. Further up the cycleway, the Causeway Alliance (upgrade to Highway 16 in Auckland) has committed to maintaining unimpeded access for cyclists during construction.

Local councils and businesses are exploring options like the bike-share programmes that ArchTam has sponsored in Christchurch and San Francisco, and many have embraced the role they can play in changing behaviours and connecting communities in our cities, providing education opportunities for the public and businesses.

Efforts such as the Rongomai Cycle Programme help to build the confidence and skills these young cyclists need, and also prepare them to be responsible road users in the future. Recent studies have even shown that students who cycle have better road awareness and success rates when they take their drivers test.

In New Zealand today, only 1 percent of our commuting is done on a bicycle, but 46 percent of standard travel commutes are less than 5 kilometers long — a perfect distance for a bicycle. The number one barrier is safety, but I believe that is poised to change for the better.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the importance of cycle safety. Be sure to use the #SafetyforLife hashtag when you share this post on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

Wendi Croft is an ArchTam safety, health & environment manager based in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally from Canada, Wendi lives in Auckland with her husband and three children. When she isn’t working, she enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking and exploring New Zealand with her family.
LinkedIn: Wendi Croft

References:
Predicting Accident Rates for Cyclists and Pedestrians, 2006, NZTA http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/research/reports/289/docs/289.pdf
Lorries without cycle safety equipment to be banned from London. 2014. https://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2014/01/lorries-without-cycle-safety-equipment-to-be-banned-from-london
City of Portland – violation study. http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/04/so_you_think_cyclists_are_the.html
Harbour Sport Study. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/10273067/Cyclists-make-better-drivers

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