Workplace Safety: A Top Priority for Equans
By Disseling Diatta, Health and Safety Director for the Refrigeration and Fire Safety Division at Equans France
What is a typical day like in your line of work?
No two days are alike in the field of health and safety. Our primary goal is to support managers and teams in carrying out their tasks and operations safely. I make sure that all employees work safely and return home in good health.
When we arrive on-site, we must ensure that employees have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or collective protective equipment if they are required to perform their duties.
We cannot accept that a workplace accident occurred simply because an employee did not have the proper PPE or adequate equipment.
What are the different types of tours?
Given the risks on construction sites, managers must do everything in their power to ensure compliance with safety procedures. Equans has therefore implemented “health and safety leadership” training programs for managers and frontline supervisors to address any concerns and discuss the challenges of day-to-day operations.
How do health and safety best practices take shape on a day-to-day basis?
They develop through the involvement of all managers. For example, I can’t go to a job site without wearing my hard hat and then ask my teams to wear one. That’s inconsistent. A manager knows how to explain to their teams that health and safety is a priority and that their goal is to prevent accidents. If they’re committed and believe in it, the team will believe in it too
How do you plan for operations involving external service providers?
We have large-scale projects that pose significant health and safety risks. Naturally, we work with several entities within the group. We need to coordinate our efforts because we employ subcontractors. In this situation, we share our procedures, health and safety rules, and work methods with them so that we can all be on the same page.
The top two causes of accidents are well known: the unexpected and rushing. For the past year, managers have been asked to hold a daily pre-start meeting. The goal? To start the day having cleared up any uncertainties that could lead to an accident.
What is the purpose of this pre-start meeting?
The pre-start meeting teaches our teams how to plan ahead for their tasks. I start my day by asking myself the right questions. Do I have everything I need to work safely today? I’m aware of the task at hand, and I’ve made sure I have everything I need to perform it safely.
Which tasks are the most hazardous?
Falls from heights are a major concern at Equans. Today, we have fairly complex tasks to carry out. Determining the correct method is one of our major challenges.
It is essential to conduct a joint site inspection so that everyone is aware of the risks associated with the job site and so that we can agree on safety measures to prevent accidents.
Do you have a final message you'd like to share?
We all have a responsibility when it comes to health and safety—for ourselves, for the company, for our families, and to set a good example.
If I set a good example, my colleague sets a good example, and my teams set a good example.
Beyond setting a good example, shared vigilance means having the courage to say “stop” and accepting to be stopped when a danger is identified by anyone present. Because the first rule of survival is to take care of yourself and take care of others.
