Over two days in Limerick and Kilkenny, (September 10th & 11th), Shareridge held its annual Safety Stand Down—a pivotal event that sees the entire company pause its operations to reflect on and reinforce its commitment to safety. With senior directors, managers, employees, and subcontractors all gathered under one roof, the message was clear: safety is at the core of Shareridge’s mission, and it requires the collective effort of every individual.
The event’s tone was set early on by CEO Paul McNamara. Opening the proceedings, he welcomed clients, consultant engineers, and the most important attendees—the Shareridge team itself. McNamara’s speech was both reflective and forward-thinking, acknowledging the company’s accomplishments over the past year while driving home the real reason they had all come together: to prevent accidents and ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of each day.
“The reason we do this,” Paul said, “is that when we leave the house every morning, we return home safely. That is the main objective of Shareridge as a group.” His speech touched on the alarming statistics from 2023 – 43 workplace fatalities and 184 deaths on Irish roads, stark reminders of the potential dangers that workers face every day. “We do not want to be one of those statistics,” he emphasised. This clear message underscored the importance of every safety protocol, every risk assessment, and every precaution that Shareridge employees are expected to follow.
Paul also took time to highlight the investments Shareridge has made in 2023, not only in new offices, equipment, vehicles and IT systems, but most importantly, in its people. “Without you, Shareridge is nothing,” he stated, reminding the team that it is their collective effort that keeps the company moving forward. “Our vision is not to be the biggest contractor in the country, but to be one of the best. And that’s what we strive for: to deliver 100% for our clients and employees, and to deliver good work.”
Following Paul, Sarah Gallagher, HSQE Director, took the stage to commend the dedication shown by the Shareridge team in upholding high safety standards. Her speech balanced recognition with reflection. “Today is not only about catching up with people we haven’t seen in a while, but also about celebrating safety. We don’t do that often enough,” she said. Sarah highlighted the significant reduction in the company’s Lost Time Injury (LTI) rate, now standing at 0.43, down from a previous high of 3.4. She attributed this progress to the collective efforts of everyone in the room, from the ground up.
Sarah also presented awards to outstanding leaders in safety:
- Leadership Award: Mark Uprichard
- Team Awards: ERCL Baglanstown, CCO Civils, and Pa Noonan Plant Hire
- Works Supervisor Award: Corey Dempsey and Matheus Riberios
- Safe Digging Awards: Eddie Killeen and Alex Leonovich
- Speaking Up Award: Nadi Najem
The recognition of these individuals and teams serves as a powerful reminder that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Pauraic Corrigan, Secretary of NISO (National Irish Safety Organisation) spoke about the importance of health and safety in the workplace, particularly in civil engineering and road work, with an emphasis on personal responsibility for preventing accidents. Pauraic reflected on the history of NISO (and its role in promoting workplace safety in Ireland.
In a more detailed look at how safety is managed on-site, Kieran Neary, HSQE Manager, shared lessons learned from near misses and incidents over the past year. His focus was on process improvements and ensuring that mistakes are not repeated. One particularly striking example was a near miss involving a worker standing on excavator forks to cut a pipe because the proper equipment wasn’t available. Neary didn’t dwell on blame but instead used the incident to show how systems could be improved. “It’s about coordination and making sure the right tools and processes are in place,” he explained.
Another impactful part of the day was the theatrical performance and workshop by Theatre at Work, which depicted a chaotic building site where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. The performance was a stark, thought-provoking reminder of what happens when safety protocols are ignored, and it resonated with everyone present.
While safety was the main focus of the event, Nikita Coulter, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, drew important connections between environmental concerns and health and safety. She reminded everyone that storing chemicals and fuels properly isn’t just about environmental responsibility but also worker safety. “A gas leak can cause a fire, and a chemical spill can lead to slips and trips. It’s all connected,” Nikita said. Her presentation was a call to action for workers to be vigilant not just in their personal safety but in how their actions impact the environment around them.
When it came to the company’s people, Alicia McNamara, HR Director, delivered an important message about the progress Shareridge has made in terms of inclusivity, diversity, and employee well-being. She proudly highlighted the fact that 50% of the board of directors are women, a statistic she said reflects the company’s commitment to inclusivity. Alicia also touched on the major shift in how the company has grown geographically and structurally. With over 425 employees spread across regional offices in Castlebar, Limerick, Tullamore, and Kilkenny, Shareridge’s expansion has allowed them to offer more stability and work-life balance to their workforce.
Reflecting on the changes in the industry, Alicia acknowledged how work has evolved over the last decade. “Traditionally, projects would last six to twelve months, and workers would have to uproot and move. Now, with the Frameworks and our major contracts, we’re able to offer long-term roles in fixed locations, giving people the chance to work closer to home.” This shift, she said, has helped Shareridge attract a more diverse pool of candidates, including more women and those from outside Ireland.
Alicia also stressed the company’s commitment to developing its employees through graduate programmes, apprenticeships, and flexible working arrangements. She highlighted initiatives like the Earn While You Learn programme, which sends out regular training videos to keep staff updated, and the Mount Lucas Skilled Utilities Operator Traineeship, a 13-month apprenticeship providing valuable on-site and classroom training. “If you know anyone who might be interested, send them my way,” she said, underscoring Shareridge’s investment in the future of its workforce.
Perhaps most striking was Alicia’s focus on employee well-being. The company has launched several initiatives aimed at improving mental health support and work-life balance, including a Mental Health First Aid team and a Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity partnership, which provides a 24/7 helpline for workers and their families. Later in 2024, Shareridge will also roll out health screenings for its staff, offering checks on blood pressure, weight, and other health indicators.
Before concluding her speech, Alicia revealed two new benefits: a death-in-service benefit and an occupational pension scheme, both designed to provide additional security for employees and their families. “No one likes to think about retirement or, God forbid, death, but it’s important to have that security for the future,” she said, encouraging employees to consider joining the pension scheme in the next enrolment period.
Sergei Nemich, Operations Director, provided an impressive overview of the progress made on Shareridge’s 21/050 framework, which covers water and wastewater services. He detailed the completion of over 30,000 work orders, the installation of nearly 33 kilometres of mains, and the replacement of over 1,900 lead services. He said that total water savings todate equates to more than 11 olympic size swimming pools per day! His emphasis was clear: such progress would not have been possible without an unwavering commitment to safety. With only one LTI for the entire year and a high health and safety score from clients, Sergei reinforced that safety is integral to the company’s success.
David Mitchell and Lisa Garrett from Uisce Éireann emphasised the critical importance of fostering a safety-first mindset in all aspects of the work carried out in infrastructure delivery. They spoke passionately about the “Am I Safe” campaign, a key part of Uisce Éireann‘s“Work Safe, Home Safe” initiative. This campaign, launched in 2023 and co-designed with delivery partners, encourages workers to stop and think before starting any task, asking themselves, “Am I safe?” The campaign aims to ensure that contractors and workers on construction sites and operational plants work safely and return home without incident. To support this, the “Am I Safe” website has been developed as a safety portal for Ireland’s water industry, offering resources like safety guidelines, video features on close calls and good catches, and critical health and safety documentation. “A picture really does tell a much more comprehensive story than reading it on paper,” she said, advocating for the use of short, on-the-ground video clips that don’t need to be professionally produced. Garret encouraged staff and contractors to share these videos, stressing that there should be no hesitation or fear in sharing lessons learned, as doing so could potentially save lives.
Shareridge’s Safety Stand Down was a powerful reminder that safety is not just a policy but a culture – one that requires buy-in from every individual, from directors to site workers. Paul McNamara’s words summarised the day’s message perfectly: “Without you, Shareridge is nothing. Together, we achieve more.” The commitment to safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement was evident, and as the company looks ahead to 2025, the goal remains clear: ensuring that every single person goes home safe at the end of the day.
