Health, safety and wellbeing
VolkerFitzpatrick prioritises health, safety and wellbeing. We continually strive to prevent work-related injuries and the ill-health of our employees, and anyone associated with our activities, whilst also improving their mental health. We are exceptionally proud of our safety record, excelling against industry standards. This is also recognised through industry health and safety awards. We received the prestigious RoSPA Order of Distinction in 2024 and regularly receive distinctions at the International Safety Awards.
Our approach
VolkerFitzpatrick maintains clearly defined management systems, interfaces and responsibilities that are understood and accepted by all. Maintaining effective oversight and scrutiny processes, carried out with independence and impartiality, we comply with corporative, legislative and other requirements and we always seek further improvements.
It is imperative that through the management and development of our employees, providing them with the necessary competence and understanding of their roles and responsibilities through training and supervision, we enable them to proactively contribute to the achievement of our objectives and the development of our professional risk and safety management culture.
PALS - our internal behavioural change programme
As part of VolkerFitzpatrick's unrelenting commitment to continuously improve the health, safety and well-being of our people, subcontractors and supply chain partners we have implemented a holistic behavioural change programme called PALS (Plan, Attitude, Lead, Share) which is now in its 12th year.
Our PALS campaign is delivered by over 150 volunteer coaches which includes several coming from our supply chain partners. These individuals focus on everyone making the right choices. The positive culture behind the programme is that we Plan before we start work, have the right Attitude, Lead by example and Share to help others get it right. In simple terms we want everyone to look after their ‘P.A.L.S'.
See below to view our Occupational Health Safety Policy and Practice. To request a copy of any of our policies, please contact us here.
Enhancing the importance of maintaining good physical and mental health
Maintaining the mental health of employees is a key part of our occupational health strategy. In addition to health surveillance, we place a particular focus on raising awareness of the importance of maintaining good mental health.
We have mental health champions embedded across the business, who are trained by Mental Health England to be able to signpost their colleagues to the appropriate support. We provide our people, and their families, with access to resources and supporting organisations, and internal campaigns raise awareness of mental health issues, while highlighting wider national and global activities, such as World Mental Health day. A programme of campaigns tackles a variety of physical health matters, including talks from guest experts.
Every six months, teams at every VolkerFitzpatrick site come together for important safety stand down talks, where we focus on health and wellbeing.
VolkerFitzpatrick has received the prestigious RoSPA Order of Distinction in 2024, which highlights the company’s commitment to health and safety excellence. This latest achievement signifies that VolkerFitzpatrick has won 16 consecutive RoSPA Gold awards.
VolkerFitzpatrick is one of the first businesses to achieve BSI certification - BS 99001. An in-depth audit of our management system confirmed our ability to meet the requirements of the new Building Safety Act, which became UK law in April 2022.