Health and safety
At Aleatica, safety is our priority.
That’s why, through our integrated management approach, we are committed to continuously improving safety conditions for our customers and employees. Along with regulatory agencies, we also aim to foster a safety-conscious culture among our suppliers of goods and services as well as the communities in which we operate.
Safety Management System (SMS)
To structure and efficiently execute the processes and procedures that ensure the safety and health of our employees and contractor employees in each of our Business Units, we created the Aleatica Safety Management System (SMS), which is based on the requirements established by ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and ISO 39001 (Road Traffic Safety Management Systems).
As part of the Safety strategy, it was established that the Brownfield Business Units must implement and certify their operations under ISO 45001 by no later than 2023. This process has experienced delays since some operations have opted for an integrated certification that includes not only ISO 45001 but also ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.
At the end of 2024, 93% (+5% compared to 2023) of the Brownfield Business Units were ISO 45001 certified.
Occupational safety initiatives
Outlined below are the key Safety initiatives aligned with our process DOS-PRCS-01: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. As part of our Safety strategy, we have implemented various preventive actions aimed at mitigating risks and hazards before they materialise, thereby contributing to the continuous improvement of the process.
Job Hazard Assessment (JHA)
The JHA project is primarily focused on safety training regarding daily risks and activities.
Near Miss Project
We implemented the Near Miss project in all Aleatica Business Units globally, through its development on the Aleatica Safety Reporting (ASR) platform. This has become an essential tool in driving cultural change towards health and safety. The main objective of this project is to embed the identification of unsafe acts and conditions, which, if not corrected, could eventually lead to an incident or workplace accident.
Near Miss High Potential Events (HPE)
Some Near Miss cases require special attention due to their severity. This new concept is defined as: an extraordinary event where employees are involved, no injuries occur, but the outcome could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities.
Safety Stop Cards
We have successfully launched the Safety Stop Cards project in the Business Units where applicable. This initiative aims to empower employees through cards authorised by the Business Unit General Manager, allowing them to halt work whenever conditions are unsafe.
Cross Audits
We initiated the cross-audit project in 2023 in Mexico, where we provided training to an internal audit team in ISO 45001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 standards.
Operational Safety Inspections by Mid and Senior Management
During 2024, we launched the operational inspection project for mid and senior management, where these roles conduct rapid inspection reports related to Safety, verify PPE usage, monitor procedure compliance, order, and cleanliness, and inspect collective protections, machinery, and equipment.
Technology-driven improvements
The use of technology in the infrastructure sector enhances employee safety and boosts operational efficiency, reduces long-term costs, and helps prevent occupational accidents. The most significant innovations implemented include
Jaws
We have developed a system that consists of a clamp mounted on the front of a surveillance vehicle, allowing employees to remove objects from the road without exiting the vehicle. The clamp includes an internal camera for real-time visual monitoring of collected objects and a powerful magnet to remove nails, screws, and metallic debris. This system was initially tested in Minnesota, USA, before being adapted in Mexico, achieving a 97% reduction in risks associated with employees exiting the vehicle. Currently, JAWS is in use across several Business Units.
Sweepers
Specialised sweeping machines have been deployed in various Business Units to eliminate employee exposure to traffic hazards while conducting road maintenance tasks. These machines significantly reduce the time and risk associated with manual debris collection on roads.
Lane Intrusion Alarm System
Internally, our Operations team launched the Lane Intrusion Alarm System, designed to detect and alert when a vehicle enters a restricted lane where employees are working. This system is installed in maintenance areas and is capable of triggering an immediate alert if a vehicle breaches the designated safety zone. Currently, this system is implemented in 12 Business Units.
Mobile Barriers
We have incorporated automated mobile barriers to improve the safety of employees and customers by facilitating better mobility for first responders. These barriers allow for rapid lane adjustments at toll booths and emergency areas, remotely controlled to adapt to real-time traffic conditions.
Innovation in Traffic Management
We have invested in advanced traffic management technologies that enhance road safety by optimising vehicle flow and minimising congestion in high-risk areas. These solutions ensure efficient and safe road usage. These innovations are expected to be extended to other Business Units.
Innovation with Light Barriers on Machines
Through our British team, we are testing a lighting projection system mounted on machinery that defines the safety distance around the equipment, alerting pedestrians not to cross that boundary. This system helps maintain operating perimeters for machines, preventing employees from entering hazardous areas.
Automatic Asphalt Machine
We have acquired automated paving equipment, enabling asphalt repair work to be conducted remotely from the vehicle, eliminating the need for employees to be exposed to live traffic.
Cushion Trucks
This system, implemented in 2020 at Aleatica, is used in all Business Units. The Cushion Trucks are mobile protective vehicles that absorb impact energy in the event of a collision, protecting employees from being struck by vehicles. These units incorporate TL-2 and TL-3 impact attenuation levels, supporting collisions from both customers and non-customers at speeds of up to 110-120 km/h. Currently, we have 47 Cushion Trucks to safeguard our employees. This system is now mandatory across all Aleatica Business Units worldwide.
Automatic Cone Truck
Machinery with lateral adapters that allows traffic cones to be placed safely without employees exiting the vehicle. This truck is equipped with Cushion Truck protection, eliminating 100% of the risk of employees being struck by vehicles while setting up work zones.
Smart Speed Control System (SICS)
This is an advanced safe driving system that incorporates high-definition cameras inside and outside vehicles to detect unsafe or unauthorised driver behaviours, such as phone use, distractions, excessive speed, among others. The system is integrated with a recognition and alerting programme, providing real-time safety feedback to improve driving culture.
In 2024, we installed SICS systems in 187 operational Aleatica vehicles across Mexico, Spain, and South America, covering 90% of our fleet. This initiative resulted in a 63% reduction in unsafe driving behaviours and an 87% reduction in seatbelt non-compliance per 1,000 km driven. Additionally, geolocation and panic button activation provide enhanced security for employees, while vehicle data digitisation improves fleet maintenance and fuel consumption management.
Mandatory Safety Requirements (MSR)
MSR protocols define the minimum safety requirements for contractors working at Aleatica and its Business Units. These requirements are incorporated into Safety contract clauses, with supervision from assigned safety personnel.
Additionally, the MSR process integrates Aleatica’s Safety Control Group, which validates contractor safety training compliance before issuing work certifications. In 2024, we reviewed and approved 205 contractor certifications (-16% compared to 2023 with 245 certifications issued on previous year).
Contractor Documentation Control Software
One of the most advanced improvements in contractor management has been the implementation of documentation control software across Business Units.
Through this platform, specialised safety personnel validate essential documentation for contractors, employees, and machinery. The system blocks access to work areas if documentation is missing or invalid and issues QR-coded credentials for employees and machinery, facilitating on-site audits and real-time authorisation validation.
This system is fully implemented (100%) in operational Business Units in Mexico (+17%), 75% implemented in South America (+25%), and fully integrated (100%) in Europe. This solution reduces legal risks related to contractor non-compliance, mitigating potential impacts on Aleatica.
ASR Platform (Aleatica Safety Report)
During 2024, we continued consolidating the use of the Aleatica Safety Report (ASR) platform, which enables the registration of accidents and incidents, facilitating investigations and root-cause identification, in accordance with the DOS-PRCS-09 Accident, Near Miss, and Incident Investigation process. Through this platform, we also establish the corresponding corrective actions, ensuring monitoring and proper closure.
We also implemented the medical services module, allowing for the creation of a data analytics section related to occupational health, while ensuring compliance with the strictest data protection laws. This information is leveraged through Business Intelligence, generating key statistical data to guide health campaigns.
A new advanced analytics module was created, integrating lagging KPIs and leading indicators to conduct in-depth trend analyses.
We continue to develop and improve the ASR platform (Aleatica Safety Report). In all Business Units, it is used as a key reference for managing Health and Safety information.
Own workforce occupational safety indicators
In 2024, the Lost Time Injury (LTI) indicator decreased by 8.82 % compared to 2023.
The improvement in performance of our Safety Strategy is evident in the charts shown, where despite the sustained increase in employee work hours over the last five years, the indicators for Lost Time Injury (LTI), the number of days lost due to these injuries, and the incidence (LTIIR), severity (LTISR), and frequency (LTIFR) rates all show a downward trend.
Occupational safety indicators
39
25
34
31
Number of occupational accidents with sick leave (LTI)
Contractors’ occupational safety indicators
In 2024, the contractors’ Lost Time Injury (LTI) indicator decreased by 19.58 % compared to 2023.
Just like our internal employees, contractor personnel also experienced a sustained increase in work hours over the last five years. However, indicators for Lost Time Injury (LTI), the number of days lost due to these injuries, and the frequency rate (LTIFR) demonstrate a decreasing trend. This confirms that the Safety strategy has positively influenced contractor operations as well.