Safety at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's working sites

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's starting point for occupational safety is occupational safety activities at shared construction sites. By working this way, healthy and safe work can be ensured. 
The key to occupational safety is induction and guidance to work in a sufficient and high-quality manner. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will continue to produce electrical occupational safety materials accessible to everyone. 
Well-implemented occupational safety instructions are prepared in cooperation. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's stakeholders play a key role in this work. The primary purpose of the safety documentation is to ensure safe working. 

Self-monitoring is the agency’s internal action which ensures that we and our service providers work according to Finnish laws. It also ensures that both parties follow the directives, safety requisitions, and other agreements set by The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

Self-monitoring covers all the phases of route upkeep: planning, building, and maintenance. All results, decisions, and corrective measures from self-monitoring are documented along with their responsible parties. The agency’s self-monitoring is also performed by consultants hired through separate contracts.

A self-monitoring inspection includes the inspection of safety documentation and a safety tour, both performed under instructions. The inspection is usually performed once, but, if needed, it, or a portion, can be performed again if significant safety deficiencies are found. The joint inspections of our agency and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment are based on our safety strategy. This strategy is focused on transportation and infrastructure and it directs priority-monitoring targets. Self-monitoring inspections are focused according to the data gained from prior inspections. In addition, we take note of safety gaps, risk assessments, changes in the working environment, and security needs when planning these inspections.

 A safety inspection can be carried out at a construction, maintenance or maintenance site as well as in the form of on off-road design work, railway traffic control or work performed at another site falling under the operations or responsibility of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the site of which is related to the self-monitoring inspection in question. The composition of a safety inspection team varies; it may include a representative of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the person responsible for safety at a service provider and a safety coordinator. During a safety inspection, the conditions, operating methods, equipment and occupational safety at the working site are inspected. Minutes of the safety review are drawn up.

The corrective measures for the observed deviations and their scheduling will be agreed upon in cooperation with the participants in the safety review. This information will be recorded in the minutes. The implementation of the measures will be monitored using agreed procedures. Positive safety observations are particularly important as they have a positive impact on maintaining safety at a working site.

The factors behind occupational accidents have remained unchanged for several years. Accidents most commonly occur when a person is moving, working with hand-held tools or handling objects. Accidents are caused by persons falling, tipping over, slipping, or losing control of a device, tool, or object. The injuries caused have been jolts and bruises, dislocations, sprains and strains, as well as wounds and superficial injuries.

A key element in the prevention of occupational accidents is the identification of occupational hazards and risk assessment. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency is further developing risk management guidelines and templates for service providers.