The growing number of UK safety pre-qualification schemes is causing operational problems for contractors and is undermining the promotion of health and safety awareness, warns David Pollock, director of the ECA.

While pre-qualification schemes have an important role to play when listing contractors for invitation to tender, the sheer number of schemes causes unnecessary duplication, extra costs and wasted time. In turn, this extra work, rather than adding value for the client and contractor, demoralises companies and reinforces the myth that health and safety is a burden.

Recognising the trend for a rising number of schemes, the ECA is working with SELECT, fellow members of the SEC Group and other key industry groups including the HSE, the Major Contractors' Group and Construction Confederation to establish UK-wide core criteria for health and safety pre-qualification. These new criteria would act as a common minimum standard for safety pre-qualification.

"The provision of clear, practical guidelines on acceptable pre-qualification criteria will help construction and maintenance sectors to comply with CDM and other safety legislation," says Pollock.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor