Background
- Service: HSE Manager
- Industry: Offshore wind
- Country: Denmark
This case illustrates how interim HSE leadership can be an effective strategy to meet increasing safety demands in the construction industry. By aligning HSE practices with ESG requirements, companies like this one not only create a safer working environment but also strengthen internal structures and ensure compliance with new reporting standards.
- On-site safety supervision
- Improved collaboration between site personnel and off-site stakeholders
- Enhanced safety and operational structure
- Development and implementation of a tailored Control of Work system
- Environmental compliance
Challenge
When a major Danish contractor was tasked with cable installation along a 5 km stretch as part of an offshore wind farm construction project—and simultaneously faced a surge in activity across other projects—an urgent need arose for a full-time, on-site HSE Manager. The client turned to Plant Supervision, and we deployed a qualified candidate to the site within just one week.
In addition to increased project activity, the construction industry has been facing tighter requirements regarding both occupational safety and sustainability. As the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the accompanying European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) now require companies to report in detail on environmental, social, and governance factors, HSE practices have taken center stage in ESG reporting.
Our solution
Plant Supervision swiftly located a qualified HSE Manager from our extensive database of experienced, travel-ready personnel. The selected candidate brought solid experience from the oil & gas sector—an industry where safety and risk management are paramount. Given the many similarities between the oil, gas, and wind industries, and the candidate’s adaptability and flexibility, he was a perfect match. When the project extended, the client chose to prolong his contract.
Over the course of two months, the Plant Supervision HSE Manager implemented a series of initiatives to enhance safety and ensure compliance with both national and EU regulations:
tasks completed
Developed, expanded, and implemented a Control of Work system, including:
A Permit to Work system for controlled access to high-risk areas and an incident reporting system, integrated with daily pre-start meetings, toolbox talks, and lifting plans.
Facilitated safety meetings
… And toolbox talks to promote a proactive safety culture.
Provided on-site safety supervision, including:
Site safety inductions for new workers, monitoring of work at height, hot work, and confined space entry as well as creation and enforcement of lifting plans.
Ensured environmental compliance, including:
Adherence to regulations protecting natural habitats and wildlife as well as procedures to minimize impact on marine life.
Strengthened collaboration between on-site staff and off-site stakeholders
—an added value not originally specified in the job description, but brought to the project by the HSE Manager.
Results
The HSE Manager’s efforts significantly improved both the safety performance and collaboration across the project. A strong safety mindset was instilled among site workers, reflected in a notable increase in reported improvement areas.
Our HSE Manager helped ensure zero workplace accidents during his time on the project. The cable installation was completed without harm to natural, animal, or marine life—supporting the environmental responsibility expected under ESG standards.
Additionally, the HSE Manager successfully bridged communication gaps between on-site staff and off-site stakeholders. When he left the site, he left behind a strengthened safety culture and a structured approach to Control of Work—tools the company can apply in future projects.
