Since the A417 Missing Link scheme went live in Spring 2023, there have been nearly 2 million hours of work with no RIDDOR reportable incidents, the equivalent of 8,300 days of keeping workers safe on site.
A RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) reportable incident refers to Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Regulations, which must be followed if a serious incident, or specified injury, or fatality occurs, and is a standard measure across construction to monitor safety performance, all of which could mean delays to the scheme’s delivery.Around 500 people each day are working on the £460 million transformation of the A417, an important route between Gloucester and Swindon that helps connect the Midlands/North to the South of England. It’s an alternative to the M5/M4 route via Bristol.S
Since work began, the improvements scheme has also poured over 3,050 cubic metres of concrete; moved 1.6 million m3 of earth; laid 18km of drainage pipes; fitted 1,682 tons of reinforced and structural steel; laid 10,000 tons of road surfacing; and progressed building six new bridges.
Contractor Kier is carrying out the work for National Highways and is aiming to have the project open for traffic in Spring 2027.Celine Acard, Senior Project Manager for National Highways, said: “Safety is always the number one priority for National Highways. We think nobody should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads and do all we can to try to make that happen.
“For our contractors, Kier, to record over two million working hours without a serious incident is a fantastic achievement. We are pleased that the stringent safety measures put in place on site are paying dividends, and I’m confident that it will continue to do so.”
RIDDOR is a UK law that requires employers and those in control of work premises to report certain workplace incidents HSE. This includes work-related deaths, injuries, specified occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences (near misses).
Gavin Jones, Project Director for Kier, added:
“The health and safety of our people and supply chain is our number one priority, so to see this reflected in this project by achieving no RIDDOR reportable incidents since 2023 is something I am extremely proud of.”
(Pic: National Highways)
