About Us ESG Safety

Safe working and sustainable practices form the foundation of everything we do

At Swietelsky Rail Benelux, we believe that safety and sustainability are inseparably linked. Through conscious behaviour, collaboration and continuous improvement, we work every day to create a working environment where people can operate safely and where we treat our surroundings responsibly. Our highest ambition: that everyone returns home safe and healthy at the end of the working day — today and in the future.

  
Our vision on safety – Behaviour as the key to safety

Safety starts with awareness and responsibility. The behaviour of our employees plays a decisive role in this. That is why we continuously invest in strengthening our safety culture. We create a working environment in which colleagues speak up, openly discuss risks and work together to find the safest way of working.

By embedding safety as a structural part of our daily operations, we build trust, ownership and care for one another, for our environment and for society. Through our periodic CO₂ emission analyses, we continuously optimise our business processes to further reduce our carbon footprint.

On the road to fully emission-free operations in 2050 – Working on tomorrow, today

For us, sustainability is not a promise for the future, but something we actively put into practice today and for which we are certified in various areas. Swietelsky has the ambition to operate fully emission-free by 2050 at the latest. To achieve this goal, we are already making significant investments in equipment, resources and facilities that contribute to a safe, healthy and future-proof working environment.

The transition to emission-free operations not only reduces our CO₂ emissions, but also results in less noise, cleaner worksites and a safer workplace for employees and the surrounding area. Our first milestone is the full electrification of small mechanical tools by 2028.

Image00023

To realise our ambition, we focus on initiatives such as:

New construction with battery solutions - Our new building in Oisterwijk has been designed with a strong focus on sustainability and the future, prioritising energy efficiency, comfort and health. This includes electric installations, smart energy solutions and the ability to generate and store our own energy. As a result, we can relieve pressure on the electricity grid and operate with low or zero emissions, even without a permanent grid connection.
Electric rail crane - The use of electric cranes, such as our fully converted electric rail crane (krol), enables quieter, cleaner and safer work on and alongside the railway. This reduces disturbance to the environment and creates a more pleasant working environment for our employees.
Small electric tools - An increasing number of hand tools and auxiliary equipment are being electrified. This reduces environmental impact while improving working comfort and safety on the work floor.

Sustainable working is safe working

The transition to electric equipment and sustainable solutions fits seamlessly with our vision on safety. Lower emissions, reduced noise levels and modern equipment contribute to a healthier workplace and a lower impact on people and the environment. In this way, safety and sustainability reinforce each other — today and towards 2050.

Whatsapp Image 2026 03 25 At 11.15.24 (1)

From theory to practice – Learning, sharing and improving

To keep safety awareness alive, we organise various initiatives throughout the year, including:

  • themed sessions and toolbox meetings;
  • project-based safety dialogues;
  • evaluations of incidents and near misses;
  • pilots with new, innovative tools or equipment.

These moments are designed to share experiences, learn from one another and identify risks at an early stage. This is how we continue to improve — every single day.

An annual moment of reflection and inspiration

At the end of each year, we organise the BSAFE Safety Week. This recurring event is not only a moment to reflect on the past year, but above all to look ahead together. Through a variety of sessions, we inspire and inform our employees about safety, sustainability, innovation and collaboration.

Together Better was the theme of the 2025 Safety Week. This theme highlights what we stand for: identifying risks together, learning together from incidents and working together on improvements.

Safe together: the BSAFE Safety Platform

Within the rail sector, we work closely with other contractors and partners. Safety does not stop at the boundaries of a single organisation. That is why Swietelsky is a co-initiator of the BSAFE Safety Platform.

Together with our partners, we pursue one shared ambition: zero incidents.

BSAFE focuses on:

  • Changing attitudes and behaviour
  • Improving safety on the work floor
  • Embedding safe working in processes
  • Strengthening collaboration
  • Deepening safety knowledge

These five pillars form the foundation of a shared safety culture within the rail sector.

Safety and sustainability: two sides of the same story

Safe working directly contributes to the sustainable employability of employees, fewer incidents and a smaller impact on the environment. By investing in culture, innovation and collaboration, we create solutions that are not only safe today, but also responsible for the future.

 Together, we make the difference

Would you like to know more about our approach or collaborate with us on a safe and sustainable rail sector? Please contact us at: qhse@swietelsky-rail.nl