Safety starts with how we lead

Each year, World Safety and Health at Work Day is a chance to step back and ask a simple question. Are we doing enough to keep our people safe?

At InfraBuild, safety is not a campaign or a moment in the calendar. It is how we operate, every day, at every site, in every role. It is built into our systems, our decisions and our expectations of each other.

This focus is reflected in our lowest ever injury rates, our recent recognitions, including our Mental Health First Aid program achieving Advanced Workplace Recognition from Mental Health First Aid Australia, and safety awards across our operations that acknowledge the strength of our systems and leadership. While these recognitions matter, they do not define success.

The real measure of safety is what happens on the ground, every day, which is driven by our five Health, Safety and Environment principles.

It starts with leaders

130 leaders have graduated from Leading Safety, our six-month safety leadership program, equivalent to around 30% of frontline leaders. Our leaders set the tone by the standards they walk past, the conversations they have and the decisions they make.

When leaders are clear and consistent, safety becomes part of how work gets done, not an add-on.

Robust controls

More than 1,700 critical inspections have been conducted over the past 12 months.

We measure success by more than the absence of incidents. Strong, reliable systems matter. Clear procedures, well-maintained equipment and consistent standards create the conditions for safe work. We continue to invest in these controls because they are the foundation of performance.

Proactive risk management

The effectiveness of more than 40 critical controls have been improved by investing in physical barriers or engineering solutions over the last 12 months.

The best way to prevent harm is to identify risk early and act on it. That means stopping, assessing and verifying controls before work begins, not after something goes wrong. It also means listening to our people, because those closest to the task often see the risks first.

A culture of trust

We have reported three times more near misses than injuries, and more than 30% of our people have identified and reported at least one at-risk behaviour or unsafe condition in the last 12 months.

Safety improves when people speak up. We want an environment where concerns are raised early, where mistakes are shared and where learning is continuous. This is how we strengthen our systems and prevent repeat issues.

You Matter. We Care

More than 100 leaders have been trained in how to have caring conversations with their colleagues and we have more than 180 accredited Mental Health First Aiders across our locations.

Safety is not only physical. Mental health and wellbeing are just as important. Supporting our people, checking in and making sure help is available when it is needed is part of our responsibility.

Our goal is simple. Everyone goes home safe.

That is what matters most.

Stay safe,

Francisco Irazusta
CEO, InfraBuild