Whatever the business activities or projects of VINCI companies, and regardless of whether their customers are public (such as public or local authorities or government-owned companies) or private (such as property developers or other private sector companies), VINCI’s companies invariably serve customers who order the design or construction of infrastructure or who delegate its management, maintenance or operation. VINCI companies perform their work under contract and report continuously on their activity to their customers and, in some cases, to the inspection bodies and regulators in charge of project monitoring and inspection. In an intensely competitive industry, VINCI companies not only meet the requirements set by customers, but also strive to spread best practices, including in social and environmental matters, while complying with applicable laws and the Group’s commitments. Projects undertaken on behalf of public authorities increasingly include social and environmental obligations that are reported on and verified on a regular basis. Lastly, Group companies operate within a value chain involving a large number of players (architects, design firms, engineers, regulators, inspectors, investors, lenders, partners, government and local authorities, etc.) in addition to their customers. Since Group companies do not necessarily act as the subcontracting company, they are not always in a position to choose which service providers, techniques and supplies are employed.
32 % of customers are public sector organisations
VINCI takes all of these parameters into account in designing and implementing vigilance measures that are relevant and effective with regard to its organisation, business activities and value chain.
2. Duty of vigilance with regard to health and safety
Health and safety at work is a priority issue for VINCI. The Group’s aim is to achieve zero accidents, a goal that applies to all employees and external staff working at construction or operating sites managed by a Group company. Due to continually changing jobs, materials, equipment, techniques, processes and new technologies, there is a constant need for vigilance. Above and beyond applying rules and procedures, VINCI actively drives the continuous improvement of its culture of safety for all, a culture that permeates every level of the organisation and involves all employees from site teams to managers, including temporary and subcontractor staff. (*)
VINCI employs the set of strategies illustrated below to embed its culture of safety for all into every level of the Group:
Management leadership and dedicated resources
Identification and analysis of risks for people
Prevention management systems and guidelines
Employee training and engagement initiatives
Specific assessment and audit measures
Performance monitoring and measurement
2.1 A Group framework driven by managers and a health and safety network
One reference framework for all
The Declaration on Essential and Fundamental Actions Concerning Occupational Health and Safety, which was issued jointly and signed by both the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI and the Secretary of the European Works Council in 2017, provides the Group’s reference framework. It is available in 23 languages and published on VINCI’s website (https://www.vinci.com/publi/manifeste/sst-2017-06-en.pdf). Steady, constructive social dialogue informed this joint declaration, which is part of VINCI’s continuous efforts to engage all employees in a shared safety culture. It is also intended to help the Group’s partners reach their own safety improvement goals.
At the operational level, the declaration requires that a risk assessment be carried out ahead of every work situation, taking especially meticulous care if the situation was not planned in advance. Appropriate preventive measures arising from the assessment must then be incorporated into operating procedures and processes. In addition to collective protective measures, entities must provide workers with personal protective equipment suited to each work situation and ensure that every worker fully understands the risks associated with their activity and the measures to be followed to reduce them. Employee representatives are kept informed of action taken to prevent workplace accidents and occupational hazards and contribute their own proposals. Occupational health and safety awareness and training programmes are essential to ensuring that all workers understand the risks. Employees must be trained during their work hours and be given clear instructions and explanations relating directly to their job or task.
Since real and sustainable improvement cannot be achieved without measuring outcomes, VINCI uses relevant indicators to assess the effectiveness of its action. Results are presented and trends are analysed to inform discussions of how to further improve outcomes. Companies methodically and thoroughly investigate every serious accident and share the findings with employee representatives. Efforts to identify hazardous situations and near misses aim not only to reduce the number of accidents, but above all to embed the Group’s safety culture into everyone’s daily work.