Hurrah for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). No, it hasn’t lowered the retirement age to 55. We’re cheering because finally a government department is setting new standards for safety on its construction sites.

Issuing guidelines and putting good words in tender documents is easy. But saying ‘safety is our number one priority’ means nothing when everyone knows time and budget are at the top of the agenda.

DWP has put its money where its mouth is on the £2.2bn Jobcentre Plus refurbishment programme. It is training, auditing and consulting through its own special breed of souped-up planning supervisor (see pages 18-19). And this approach is working. Styles and Wood, one of the framework contractors on the programme, which works for some pretty picky retail clients, puts DWP on a level above them for its commitment and hands-on approach.

Should clients really have to be checking up on contractors though? In an ideal world, where safety really is top of the list, no. But that’s not the culture we’re working in. Until we get to that point, clients have to make their commitment to safety crystal clear.

Take CSCS cards. They were brought in 10 years ago in a bid to ensure a qualified and safety-aware workforce. One of the problems facing the scheme (see pages 12-13) is that only 8.5% of the core trades of bricklayer, carpenter, plasterer and painter have them. Why? Because no one ever asks for them. Without checks, all those trade contractors who have invested in putting their employees through NVQs and health and safety tests to get their cards are put at a disadvantage. Competitors paying lip service to their ‘commitment to a fully carded workforce’ still get the jobs without shelling out the cash.

DWP has set other government departments a very good example. It had a good reason to do so. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was transferred to its care from ODPM in 2002. This month sees the second Health and Safety Summit for construction. HSE expects industry to commit itself to some more challenging targets for the coming years. So let’s see the government doing the same.

And it’s TTFN...

This is my last issue for a while. I am taking some leave to tackle a new project: a baby! In the meantime, I wish you all success with your forthcoming challenges.

Source

Construction Manager