Sustainability report 2019

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program, our social impact program guides our approach to worker management on our project sites. For example, local medical facilities are assessed at every project site and – where necessary – we set up a temporary clinic and hire medical staff. EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL IMPACT MANAGEMENT In 2019 Boskalis was awarded a contract for dredging related to a large land reclamation project in Asia. As part of this project we applied our social impact approach which in this case meant working with local social and environmental specialists to understand the local context and communities. One of the main potential impacts identified in our initial risk scan was related to the environmental impact of sourcing of sand offshore to create new land, and the need for consultation with local communities. The environmental permitting and community consultation required were completed by the sand concessionaire, as is specified by local law. However, we identified that there was a difference between what is required locally for social impact management versus what is expected in line with international principles. In our role as dredging contractor we saw an opportunity to collaborate with our supplier to develop an improved community engagement plan and grievance mechanism, alongside additional environmental management steps. This included undertaking a supplementary environmental baseline survey using local divers, a supplementary

engagement program and a social baseline survey involving focus group discussions in several communities and fish markets. The outcome of the consultations helped us to understand the perspectives of community members, such as a desire for the project to provide local jobs, the request for further communication about the project or an expectation of community investment. It also helped us to get to know the local context and how and where we could set up a grievance mechanism. The work described here was done prior to the start of dredging operations and we aim to continue throughout the project duration to help maintain constructive community relations. We recognize that it is not always possible to please all parts of a community however where possible we use our influence and work with our partners with the aim to share good practice and contribute to better social and environmental outcomes. Due to our work underwater, we often need to account for the cultural and heritage potential of underwater archeology. In 2019 Boskalis worked on a large dredging project in North America. As part of this work we needed to engage with the local indigenous people, whose community live in the project area. Their consent must be given for the work to go ahead. Efforts were made to ensure the culture and heritage of the people were respected, including carefully managing any archaeological artefacts of significance to the local community which might be found underwater or on the shoreline.

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2019 – BOSKALIS