From Whistles to an App – Safe Site Aims to Enhance Safety in the Construction Industry
After more than 20 years at Skanska, Jimmy Laakso has now launched his own company, Safe Site Sweden AB, with the goal of making construction sites safer.
A system designed to create safer construction sites — that’s the idea Jimmy Laakso is now driving forward with his new company, Safe Site Sweden AB.
“Workplace safety is one of the most important things there is,” says Jimmy Laakso.
With 25 years in the construction industry, Jimmy has seen it all. He has worked as a concrete worker, carpenter, site manager, and project engineer, gaining insight into every part of the industry — including its safety shortcomings.
Now, after over two decades at Skanska, he has taken the leap to launch his own company, Safe Site Sweden AB. His mission? To create safer workplaces.
“I’ve used most of the evacuation and safety systems available, but there is no established standard for evacuations. Over the years, we’ve relied on whistles, air horns, and expensive, temporary alarm systems that leave too much to chance. Now, it’s time to create a real, affordable standard that everyone can access,” explains Jimmy Laakso.
SafeSite is a dedicated app that every employee on a construction project can have on their phone. Within the app, a specific safety zone is created, ensuring that everyone in the area receives alerts, information, and can easily communicate with one another. Large, complex construction sites often make effective communication difficult. SafeSite aims to eliminate that challenge.
“The goal is to create an established and standardized safety system for the entire industry—one that is also easy to use. Improving safety on construction sites is a cause that I am deeply passionate about,” says Jimmy Laakso.
SafeSite is the app that every employee on a construction project can have on their phone.
A Rapid Development Journey
Jimmy’s idea developed over years at Skanska but became a reality after a conversation with Gunilla Carlsson at Nyföretagarcentrum in Vara and from there, things moved quickly.
“I got in touch with Science Park Skövde, and they were really excited about my idea. They brought me into their startup program, and now I’ve entered the Business phase — it’s incredibly exciting.”
But how did his employer, Skanska, react to him leaving the company to start his own venture? Very positively, as it turns out. Kent Sahlin, a site manager who has worked with Jimmy for many years, immediately saw the potential in SafeSite.
“This is a fantastic idea that will simplify processes and make workplaces safer. We’re currently testing it on one of our projects, and then we’ll evaluate the results. Jimmy is an amazing person, so it’s extra rewarding to support him in bringing this idea to life,” says Kent Sahlin.
For Jimmy, this means taking a temporary break from Skanska, even though the connection remains strong.
“To fully commit, I’ve taken a six-month leave of absence, and Skanska has supported me every step of the way. This is my way of giving back to all the construction workers who work hard in all conditions.”
First Stop: Noden
Although Safe Site Sweden AB and its app are still new, the calendar is already filling up. Several pilot projects are in the pipeline, and the official launch is set for August 1. One of the first test sites will be Noden, the new office building at Science Park Skövde.
“It’s really exciting to be part of a project that everyone in Skövde is talking about.”
What's next for Safe Site?
“You have to dare to take risks and move forward without pride or prestige. My approach is to be extremely humble, well-prepared, and give 100% effort to everything I do. That has always been my way. The hope now is that we will grow and help make Sweden’s construction sites even safer,” concludes Jimmy Laakso.