As an example of these audit systems in business lines and divisions, VINCI Construction Grands Projets has a dedicated audit unit within its Quality, Safety, Environment and Information Systems Department (DQSE-I). Its management committee sets an audit schedule each year, based on operational priorities and risks. VINCI Construction Grands Projets’ head office audits each project every two years, to ensure that its management system fully complies with safety requirements. These requirements reflect applicable standards (such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001), guidelines applied by VINCI, VINCI Construction and VINCI Construction Grands Projets, as well as a project’s specific contractual requirements (as defined by the safety plan, environment plan, quality plan, process map, contract, requirements of partners and other interested parties, laws and regulations in force, local standards, etc.). ISO 9001, which is a core standard for audits, also covers all aspects relating to the management, selection, monitoring and assessment of subcontractors. Upon completion of an audit, observations are shared with the heads of the relevant project and the audit report is sent to management at every level, including VINCI Construction Grands Projets’ senior management team. Once the audit report is received, the entity suggests actions to remedy any issues. Project managers and the audit unit share responsibility for monitoring the action plan: in general, the project’s QSE manager informs the auditor when a measure is implemented and provides evidence of its achievement. Periodic updates on progress, supporting documentation and trends are also provided.
In addition to these internal systems, audit procedures relating to health and safety at Group entities may also be related to certification processes, creating a need for external audits. This is the case for three ISO 45001-certified VINCI Autoroutes concession companies with operations activities. The audits required to maintain certification provide opportunities to periodically assess the quality and maturity of various aspects and to identify strengths, opportunities for improvement and any nonconformities. The aspects covered include company policy, leadership and management engagement, employee participation, training and awareness, work preparation and organisation, risk prevention for external companies, regulatory compliance, accident management, and management of materials, equipment and products. These audits are followed internally by operational reviews in regions and a central management review, at which times corrective actions are determined and new objectives set.
Health and safety audit procedures in VINCI business lines
Reporting and analysis of accidents and potentially serious incidents
VINCI’s business activities expose employees and other workers at its worksites and operating sites to risks with potentially serious consequences. All Group companies must have a system in place to report accidents and potentially serious incidents. Every accident must be recorded and analysed; appropriate action must be taken and monitored. If a serious accident occurs, an investigation into the root causes is carried out, looking at organisational factors, procedures and equipment, but also human factors, and using proven tools and methodologies. Health and safety specialists and managers alike regularly receive specific training on how to effectively investigate incidents. The results of the investigations are reported and discussed at every management level, from the company to the division or business line, in the presence of health and safety directors. Depending on the results, changes may be made to work procedures, materials and equipment, which are then communicated to all employees and people working at the site, using dedicated online and on-site resources, as well as during in-person meetings so that staff can dialogue and interact.
Business lines and divisions develop their own accident reporting tools and applications to facilitate the sharing and spread of best practices within their organisation, especially in relation to how accidents, near misses and potentially serious incidents are analysed with respect to major risks. The health and safety departments of business lines and divisions consolidate reported information according to precise rules, enabling them to detect and analyse trends. This insight informs actions to prevent a serious accident from happening in similar circumstances. These tools are regularly fine-tuned, to enhance experience sharing when recurring risks are observed at several entities, to develop action plans at the right level of the organisation, to step up efforts and campaigns to prevent a specific risk, and to reassess, as needed, risks identified as major. For example, VINCI Concessions rolled out an application for sharing analyses of accidents or near misses in a fact sheet format that any entity can view, enabling companies to learn from the similar experiences of others. Emphasis is placed on potentially serious incidents.
Monitoring and alert procedure for fatal accidents
Every fatal accident is immediately notified to VINCI’s Executive Management and thoroughly and methodically investigated. All the involved parties participate in an in-depth analysis and a full report is made to VINCI’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to the relevant members of the Executive Committee and to VINCI’s Vice-President for Human Resources. The report includes a detailed description of the circumstances of the accident, an explanation and analysis of the causes and a presentation of the corrective actions put in place. Its purpose is to ensure that all necessary steps have been taken and shared throughout the Group to improve existing prevention measures and prevent another accident from occurring in similar circumstances. The Bureau members of the European Works Council are also informed and involved. They receive quarterly updates on accidents, regardless of the country where they occurred. This procedure applies systematically, whether the victim is a Group employee, a temporary worker, an employee of a subcontractor, joint contractor or leasing company, or a third party.
