As we enter November, we’re proud to look back on our involvement in the Construction Safety Campaign 2024, which ran from October 14th to 25th. Over the last two weeks, Shareridge teams across all our sites, offices, and depots nationwide came together to champion a safety-first culture, reinforcing best practices that are vital to the construction industry. This campaign also aligned with European Safety Week, strengthening a shared focus on health and safety standards across Ireland and Europe.
This year’s campaign, centred on “Managing Critical Risks,” united over 170,000 Irish construction workers and countless companies to address essential safety and health standards, ensuring our teams are equipped to handle high-risk tasks with care and confidence.
Our participation included hands-on training, safety workshops, and interactive events across the country. These activities brought teams together to reinforce critical safety practices and strengthen our shared commitment to workplace safety. From in-depth excavation and underground service training to safe driving and health-focused workshops, each event provided our team with valuable insights and practical experience to carry forward into daily operations. Through our collective dedication, we continue to build a culture that places safety and well-being at the forefront of everything we do.
Shareridge’s highlights from the Construction Safety Campaign 2024 included:
- Excavation Safety Sessions: With an emphasis on trench support, our teams engaged in presentations and interactive Q&A sessions designed to strengthen safe excavation practices. We welcomed Joe Lenihan from groundforce to speak on the different types of trench support available, and how best to safely install on site, including live demonstrations. These sessions not only covered industry best practices but also addressed specific risks our teams face, helping to build both knowledge and confidence in handling such critical tasks.
- Safe Driving Day: Road safety is as essential as on-site safety. By emphasising these aspects of safe driving, we highlighted the importance of road safety for everyone who travels between sites and works in various locations, making sure that safety is never compromised on the road. We welcomed Louise Mcgeever from the RSA to provide an online presentation on road safety for our teams.
- Health and Well-being Activities: Health screenings focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with a specific emphasis on stress management and staying informed about common health issues in construction. These screenings from redicare were provided to our workforce, where they received a comprehensive breakdown of their test results, as well as information and resources to take proactive steps in managing both their physical and mental health. This commitment to well-being reflects our belief that a healthy workforce is a safe workforce.
- RespectOurRoadworkers Campaign Day (October 18): This was a day to speak with our crews about experiences and challenges faced by roadworkers. Particularly when it comes to interaction with members of the public, which sadly is becoming an increasing problem within our industry.
- Underground Services Safety: Sessions on safely managing underground services featured training on signal generator use and hands-on practice with safety protocols. Our teams had the chance to deepen their knowledge of handling underground utilities safely, a critical skill in preventing accidents related to buried services. Denise Byrne from UDE visited our sites to provide demonstrations on underground service location, with a particularly engaging session on Genny use.
- Loading, Unloading, and Safe Cargo Handling: Shareridge also conducted specialised workshops and training sessions on loading and unloading protocols, focusing on safe cargo handling to prevent accidents and ensure smooth operations on-site. This segment highlighted techniques to secure loads effectively, an essential practice that minimises risks and ensures both personnel and material safety. Tiernan Gill from Gills driving school provided an information day on safe loading and cargo securing with our teams.
The Construction Safety Campaign 2024 allowed us to refocus on critical safety issues and create a safer, more resilient work environment. The hands-on learning and proactive discussions over the last two weeks will continue to guide our operations. Shareridge remains committed to these safety standards every day, ensuring our workplaces across Ireland stay as safe as possible.