Skanska today announced that Paul Haining has been named chief environmental, health and safety (EHS) officer, filling the role held by Hendrik van Brenk, who is retiring after more than eight years with the company and 30 years in the industry. Additionally, Clark Peterson is being promoted into Haining’s former role as Skanska USA Civil vice president for EHS.
As chief EHS officer, Haining will be responsible for leading the company’s national safety and environmental programs including strategic planning and upholding Skanska’s Injury-Free Environment® (IFE). He will serve on the leadership teams for Skanska USA Inc., Skanska USA Building and Skanska USA Civil. Haining joined Skanska in 2004 and his work to promote safe work sites was recognized by Skanska AB in 2012 when he received one of the company’s most prestigious honors – the Golden Rock Award for “learning and leading in safety.” He helped to spearhead 2014’s inaugural Construction Industry Safety Week and, this year, he served as Skanska’s liaison to the event’s organizers. Additionally, he has led Skanska’s involvement with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and its Envision program. Haining is based in New York where he serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.
“Paul has been instrumental in leading our push for an Injury-Free Environment,” said Rich Cavallaro, Skanska USA president & CEO. “He has worked tirelessly to champion IFE across the company and has been one of the industry’s leading advocates of taking the types of action that eliminate complacency. He truly wants to live in a world where construction accidents do not occur.”
As Haining takes his new post, Peterson steps in to lead environmental, health and safety for Skanska’s civil construction operations while also continuing to serve as the west region’s EHS lead. He has spent his entire career at Skanska, starting in 1996 as a health and safety trainer/coordinator and equipment manager assistant. From there, he transitioned to an EHS professional, and, in 2010, he was promoted to western region EHS director. Based in Riverside, Calif., Clark is a Certified Health & Safety Technologist, as well as a Certified Mine Safety Professional.
“Clark personifies everything required of an EHS leader in construction,” said Mike Cobelli, president & CEO of Skanska USA Civil. “He has played a leading role in the development of our IFE culture, embracing and enforcing the message of how important environmental, health and safety management is for every employee. He demands accountability and proactivity from project teams as they strive to work safely and in a way that preserves surrounding environments.”