Construction Safety Week ran this year from 4-8 May. Its main theme, “All in Together”, celebrated how with mutual collaboration and accountability, the construction industry can be a safer place.      

 

The theme centred around three pillars: 

•  Recognise – the hazards 

•  Respond – by putting controls in place    

•  Respect – every hazard, every person, every life and every role
   

Yondr holds these principles at the centre of all its operations and recognises that everyone is indeed all in it together – workers, teams, supply chain partners and families. That’s why creating a culture of safety across all the sites is so important.         

As our CEO, Aaron Wangenheim says, “The true measure of our success is not only what we build, but how we protect and support the people doing the work. Safety Week is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to looking out for one another and making safe choices part of every action we take.”

 

An action-packed timetable  

 

During the week, Yondr and our partners put together a varied set of events to promote Health and Safety across different sites.           

In London, the week started with CPR training, including the use of defibrillators. Highly emotional and engaging, our team found the session of great benefit – and said it made them appreciate the importance of a quick response and knowing how to handle the equipment. This was followed by a demo on what good scaffolding looks like and how to keep safe. There was a session on the safe use of platforms and mobile elevation. And finally, a mental health awareness talk. 

At our Northern Virginia site, the subcontractor and local fire department gave a real-life example of health and safety. In a simulated trench collapse and rescue, they showed how easy it is for workers to become complacent and what would happen if they got injured. It was not something the team see in their day-to-day activities and made a powerful impression. 

Later in the week, there was an on site demo of fall protection, focusing on trenching and excavation systems. A trailer, full of kit, showed workers how the equipment would be used in a real incident. And at the end of the week, the on site medic highlighted health and wellness with another engaging presentation.   

In Toronto, the daily Toolbox Talks by crews went down well. These were short, informal sessions before a shift on specific hazards, safety procedures and work practices. Topics included Stretch and Flex (an ergonomic and wellness safety talk), Site Access and Community Neighbours, and Mental Health Awareness.  

Baseball tickets, t-shirts and gift cards were just some of the items given to boost morale and thank the teams for their commitment.     

Building a culture 

 

Construction Safety Week is an opportunity to look beyond procedures and protocols. A time to consider what fosters a safety-first culture.   

Chantel Hinson, our VP of HSE, says, “Safety Week is a reminder that every person who steps onto our site matters. Their well-being and safe return home will always be more important than anything we build. I am proud to see our Global Construction partners across multiple countries taking intentional pauses to support and uphold this philosophy. Those moments of reflection and care are what strengthen our culture and protect our people every day.”   

Last year, our PepTalk kiosks, where workers give anonymised feedback on site morale and psychological hazards, were just being introduced. 12 months on, it’s pleasing to report these are actively being used in Toronto on the construction side and at NOVA by the operational team. And one team commented that they had seen increased leadership and ownership of safety by supervisors.   

Keeping up the momentum  

 

The focus on Health and Safety doesn’t stop when Construction Safety Week ends. Yondr has  a mindset of continuous improvement, together with accountability and collaboration between industry partners.         

John Madden, our CDCO, highlights this: “Every successful project is built on planning, coordination, and execution – and safety must be embedded into each step from the very beginning. It’s encouraging to see our partners across multiple countries using Safety Week to reinforce the mindset that quality construction starts with protecting the people building it.”  

We’re already looking forward to Construction Safety Week 2027.