Concrete carpenters at all levels make a difference in infra

For almost 30 years Aelbers has been seconding concrete carpenters for clients in civil concrete construction, infra and energy transition. They are the indispensable skilled workers in construction and infra. By connecting cultures, Aelbers literally and figuratively makes the difference. An interview with director Peter van Zaanen.

Aelbers recruits skilled workers primarily in Eastern Europe. "We have different kinds of nationalities on the payroll, ranging from Poles and Romanians to Slovaks and Czechs," says Van Zaanen. "They mainly work on a project basis in shifts ranging from just a few colleagues to sometimes more than a hundred concrete carpenters on one project. We do notice a shift in recent years. Projects are tendered differently, which means that there is more spread out and peaks level off. Although we do see a big boost in renovation work."

SCL step 3

Safety is a top priority in Aelbers' operations. "We have occupied step 3 on the Safety Culture Ladder for three years now. By safety we mean living, working and communicating safely," Van Zaanen explains. "Our people are traditionally used to a certain hierarchy at work. We try to break through that culture somewhat, among other things by creating atmosphere and space so that they dare to show more of themselves. We encourage them to report imperfections and irritations in housing or at work. We have also been working for four years with the concept of an Aelbers Coach. These are foremen who are seasoned and used to the Dutch culture. They are the first point of contact for our tradesmen."

Social security

This year, Aelbers is rolling out several national toolboxes in cooperation with construction partners. For example, this year's major toolbox/knowledge session focuses on social safety. Van Zaanen: "With playful actions, we try to promote mutual understanding for each other, all while wearing safety glasses. A good example is the toolbox on collision hazards on the construction site, especially in view of an increase in electrical equipment. That leads directly to the necessary eye-openers, and that's what we do it for." A similar example is the digital training program "Skilled Workers of the Future," which Aelbers developed with Peri. "In it, we show how to clean formwork and how to recognize and fix damages to prevent consequential damage. We then do that piece again online. In the future, we will also develop training streams for multiple functions with our construction partners."

SNF-certified housing

At Aelbers, they also make every effort to make their employees as comfortable as possible. "All our people have their own bedroom for a bit of privacy," says Van Zaanen. "The housing is SNF-certified and we take family ties into account when putting them together. Besides gas, water and light, we also provide a good wifi connection. It is among their primary necessities of life. Since they are not physically present themselves, it is important that they can be in digital contact with the home front. In short, we take great care of our people and want to know what is going on. That is why we make sure that there is a contact moment every week on the construction site. We are also very visible in that respect."

Aelbers' concrete carpenters can be found on almost every major infrastructure project. "We have seconded skilled workers to the A10 at the De Nieuwe Meer interchange and to the widening of the A9 and A27, among others. Our skilled workers are also contributing to the renovation of Groningen Central Station. We are also involved in energy transition and various hydraulic engineering projects such as the renovation of locks, dikes and quay walls. So we can safely say that our skilled workers are making the difference in construction and infrastructure."