Nordstern marks an important milestone in the effort to improve the working environment and safety

Leading Nordstern’s efforts in workplace environment and safety is the Quality, Environment, and Working Environment department, headed by Torsten Asklund. Over the past eight years, Torsten has been instrumental in shaping Nordstern’s safety culture. Through his dedication and professional insight, Torsten and his team have cultivated a workplace where employees not only meet legal requirements but actively participate in safeguarding each other’s well-being.

" The certification serves our subcontractors, employees, and Nordstern itself. For me, the most important thing is that no one exposes themselves or others to unnecessary risks. People should be able to go to work without the threat of injury. We are working to transform the industry culture so that safety and workplace environment become natural topics on our sites," says Torsten Asklund, Head of Quality, Environment, and Working Environment.

Torsten Asklund and his department's efforts are based on a constant search for improvements. Through campaigns and information about safety, a shared sense of responsibility is created among employees, where everyone takes ownership of their own and their colleagues' well-being. In particular, the department has focused on reducing the number of tripping accidents – a challenge that affects not only Nordstern, but the entire construction industry.

" This year, we have focused especially on campaigns about access roads and tripping hazards, as these account for the majority of incidents, both for us and in the wider industry. We’ve already seen a positive effect, with fewer tripping accidents recorded in the first three quarters of the year compared to last year," Torsten Asklund reports.

Safety as a Shared Goal

The ISO 45001 certification is a tool for Nordstern to continuously work with safety on both construction sites and offices.

"For us, the certification is not a goal in itself, but a tool to maintain and strengthen our focus on safety and prevention," explains Torsten Asklund. "It's about changing habits and culture so that we as a company always manage risks."

At Nordstern, targets have been set for both accident and absence rates, providing the Quality, Environment, and Working Environment department with clear benchmarks. However, as Torsten notes, the focus must go beyond mere metrics. “Ideally, the goal should be zero accidents. No one should get hurt.” To enhance this approach, Nordstern also celebrates milestones for days without incidents, fostering a sense of pride among employees.

"We began marking 100 days without incidents at each construction site five years ago and have continued since. We feel the pride employees take in maintaining as many accident-free days as possible. They’re disappointed when they must reset because of an incident, but this shows that safety is on everyone’s mind," Torsten Asklund remarks.

Several Nordstern construction sites have achieved significant milestones. For instance, the Viby South site has operated for over 750 days without any incidents—a testament, according to Torsten, to the open safety culture and collaborative goals within the project team. He emphasises the importance of maintaining focus on safety, as any lapse affects the entire site.

Together Towards a Safer Future

"As long as accidents happen, our work is not complete," says Torsten Asklund. With the certification as a foundation, he and the Quality, Environment, and Working Environment department are now defining new campaign priorities. In addition to these campaigns, department members remain visible on construction sites, following up on compliance and collecting data to enhance future safety initiatives.

"We continuously monitor accident and absence rates, identifying areas that require greater attention. There is always room for improvement, and we will keep engaging openly about safety on our sites," concludes Torsten Asklund.