Kent and Sussex Roadworkers Smash Safety Record with Two Million Accident-Free Hours
Roadworkers on motorways and major A roads in Kent and Sussex have smashed a staggering safety milestone — working over two million hours without a single accident. Since July 2017, A-one+, Highways England’s lead operations and maintenance contractor in the region, has had zero work-related injuries on the road network.
A-One+ Stars in Safety
Chris Sheppard, A-one+ general manager, hailed the achievement as “remarkable” and insisted it’s no fluke.
“Every morning when our people go to work, they’re armed with the best safety equipment, training, processes, and support in the business,”
he said. “From the office to the field, safety and wellbeing are drilled into every employee. The introduction of staff safety champions has hit home the zero tolerance for workplace dangers.”
The company’s bespoke Wellbeing, Improvement, Safety, and Environmental Strategy (WISHES) plays a pivotal role. They ramp up daily safety talks, share innovative practices, and empower workers to own their safety protocols.
Highways England Praises Safety Focus
Karen Davies of Highways England praised A-One+ for their “relentless focus on safety” in a high-risk environment. Safety remains the top priority for Highways England, who aim to ensure every worker gets home safe.
“By sharing best practices across our network, we minimise risks for all employees and contractors,”
Davies added.
How A-One+ Keeps Safety Front and Centre
- Over 3,300 safety inspections carried out last year
- 9 dedicated safety champions embedded across depots
- Launch of a cutting-edge safety app tracking near misses and improvement ideas
- Mental health resources accessible 24/7 through the app
- Traffic management incursion monitoring to spot safety trends
The last recorded incident in their operating area was back in July 2017. Since then, vigilance and innovation have prevented any harm.
Major Road Upgrades On The Horizon
Highways England plans to invest over £11 billion in the next five years to revolutionise road safety and efficiency, including:
- New junction on the M20 near Ashford
- M20 upgrade to smart motorway between junctions 3 and 5
- Resilience improvements on the M20 to ease cross-channel chaos
- Two junction upgrades on the A2
- New flyover at M2 junction 5 near Stockbury
- The massive Lower Thames Crossing project — the biggest road build in a generation — linking Kent and Essex and slashing congestion at the Dartford Crossing
Highways England is ambitious, aiming to slash deaths and serious injuries on motorways and major A roads by 40% within ten years.
This impeccable safety record sets a benchmark for the whole country to follow as big changes roll in for the roads.
