I would like to applaud last month’s successful health and safety conference, where we launched our 12 core criteria for assessing contractors, in partnership with the HVCA and HSE.

We believe that by demystifying pre-qualification, contractors and clients will find it easier to communicate about health and safety requirements and, importantly, save time and money.

The core criteria are not a new assessment scheme and they do not raise the bar, but they do allow everyone to see what good practice looks like.

Many members are up to speed on health and safety but the ECA is here to help those who want to develop their safety know-how. Over the last month we have received positive feedback from members, which bodes well for its success.

The Employment Business Forum is another initiative that deserves our support. Agency labour makes up 50% of the employment market, making it a key issue for us to face head on. I believe that a flexible workforce is necessary and that subcontracted resources can help meet contractual peaks.

We should encourage agencies to be imaginative in the way operatives are employed. By entering dialogue with agencies and Amicus, the ECA can influence industry labour issues and ensure JIB standards of training and payment are maintained.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

Postscript

Alan North