Safe growth at European Energy: Why external safety and health coordination is the way forward

When European Energy began constructing larger solar parks, the character of their safety and health work fundamentally changed. Whereas previously the company possessed the internal skills to manage smaller construction projects, it soon became clear that new solutions were needed. One such solution is to employ an external safety and health coordinator from Human House directly on site.

– As a business grows, new roles emerge, and larger projects demand increased attention to safety and health, explains Project Manager Carina Dueholm.

– As our company has expanded, we have also developed more internal competences, and our partnership with Human House guides us on what we need to do and what regulations we must comply with at our sites. It gives us confidence that things are being done properly.

Roles and responsibilities – and why external expertise is crucial

For Construction Manager Peter G. Nielsen and his colleagues, safety and health coordination quickly became an unmanageable task to combine with their other design and operational responsibilities.

– On a smaller project, I have tried to take on both the role as Construction Manager and HSE – and it simply isn’t possible. There are too many responsibilities, and in the end, it’s HSE that gets neglected.

The external safety and health coordinator ensures that safety always receives the necessary attention – even when time pressures and progress accelerate.

– I’m currently overseeing three sites, and it’s difficult to be present every single day when they are geographically far apart. It’s reassuring to have someone else keep track of safety matters. We manage construction tasks, but he has a strong focus on the safety aspects. He also collects information from the various subcontractors, so I have all the necessary details. It’s a great help in my work.

Focus on safety from initial design to daily operations

Collaboration with the Human House coordinator starts as early as the project’s design phase, as Carina Dueholm explains:

– In recent years, Human House has been involved from the design stage, helping to produce our PSS during planning, which means that assessments are made from the outset. For example, what is the optimal way to design site roads – do we need one-way traffic on site? The coordinator is involved in such considerations and also challenges us. This means we plan the project from the design phase with safety and health in mind.

Once construction begins, the external safety and health coordinator is present on site, identifying details that busy site managers may overlook:

– With safety and health glasses on, you sometimes spot things you wouldn’t see as a Construction Manager, and that’s exactly where our collaboration is strong, says Peter G. Nielsen.

Visible and consistent efforts ensure effective coordination and stronger cooperation

Coordination of safety and health becomes absolutely vital, especially in large projects with many different contractors and high levels of activity. Carina Dueholm elaborates:

– We’ve also needed external coordination at times when we’ve had areas with many different contractors. When 30 people from various firms are working in a small space, safety and health coordination is essential.

The external perspective ensures that safety standards are communicated, processes run safely, and all relevant legislation is observed.

– The safety and health coordinator has held safety meetings with subcontractors every 14 days, ensuring that everyone knows: who is where and when, and what activities are taking place?

Upskilling and positive development on site

Over time, close collaboration with Human House has lifted not only the company’s own standards but also those of the contractors.

– Through working with Human House over the past 3–4 years, focusing on workplace safety and health at different sites, our contractors have also raised their standards. They are more aware of what to pay attention to. You can see the difference when you walk around the sites, notes Carina Dueholm.

This development creates safer surroundings, reduces the risk of accidents, and strengthens the overall safety culture.

The tension between progress and safety – and the value of a dedicated coordinator

Having someone whose sole purpose is to focus on safety and health becomes irreplaceable when deadlines and budgets are tight.

– There can easily be tension between progress and safety and health. That’s why I believe it is important to have someone dedicated solely to safety and health. Someone who ensures safety and health maintains its importance throughout the project and ensures that we as clients fulfil our responsibilities. But also the contractors, who have their own timelines – sometimes their focus on safety and health isn’t as strong.

Peter G. Nielsen adds:

– It’s also valuable to have a fresh pair of eyes on the project, compared to me who works in the same environment all the time and tends to get used to how things run.

Support, documentation, and ongoing updates on legislation

The external safety and health coordinator doesn’t just have experience running safety meetings and conducting safety walks. He also produces thorough reports, ensures that new legislation is implemented, and delivers continuous safety induction of employees and subcontractors. Peter G. Nielsen appreciates this effort:

– The coordinator goes into more detail than I do, because he has far more experience. He is also the one who generates written reports and contacts the various subcontractors to deliver their safety inductions. That’s what takes time.

Conclusion: A safe working environment pays off

This case study from European Energy’s solar park construction demonstrates how an external safety and health coordinator helps provide a secure working environment and peace of mind all around the site. By combining internal and external resources, safety is prioritised without compromising the construction process.

– With our large-scale projects and many people on site, it’s clear that as a company we are focused on avoiding workplace accidents. Of course, we comply with legislation and guidelines, but our main priority is accident prevention. That’s why it has a big positive impact when we take precautions from the very beginning to make the site as safe as possible, concludes Carina Dueholm.