May 28 2004
All members of the House Builders Federation, National Housing Federation, National House-Building Council, Construction Products Association and CABE have been enrolled in a pledge between the housing sector and the construction industry to improve site safety. This new agreement requires all members, as a collective forum, to commit to a health and safety charter and to increase their awareness of health and safety throughout all phases of construction.
The aim of the charter is to improve health and safety performance whilst developing a culture of respect for the workforce and for others, through enhanced collaboration ad co-operation with designers, suppliers, workers and customers. This will be delivered through an annual action plan and statistics will be harnessed to target effective improvement and develop best practice.
Stewart Baseley, House Builders Federation Chairman said of the charter: '...it is a commitment to share information, to exchange ideas and provide a climate where good practice can flourish.'
Baseley's words do not tell a new story; this alliance comes at a time when increasing demands are being made on construction professionals for collaboration and the sharing of best practice. The CIOB is currently working on a code of practice for the industry that will outline minimum expectations for site conditions.
The aim of the code of practice is to provide construction professionals and visitors to sites with a checklist of requirements that, if followed, will ensure that sites provide a well-organised, clean and safe environment for all. Furthermore, the potential environmental, social and economic benefits of improving site conditions will be highlighted as part of the CIOB Change in our Sites campaign.
Michael Brown, Director of Policy at the CIOB commented: 'Collaboration and shared goals are central to both these initiatives. The image of the industry is only as good as our most dangerous and untidy site and we must all work together to raise standards and promote construction as a desirable environment to work in.'
The code of practice will be available later this year. For more information on this and for general information about the Change in our Sites Campaign visit the campaign page at the CIOB website.
Source: CIOB