The Major Contractors Group is set to publish reports into its members' safety performance within the next two weeks.
The move follows the launch last Friday of the MCG's health and safety strategy document. This details safety initiatives planned by the group, and sets out timetables for the introduction of skills accreditation schemes across all its members' sites.

Bill Tallis, director of the MCG, said a one-page analysis would be published of each member's safety record. The information will cover a two-year period up to 31 March 2001 and will be subjected to an independent audit.

Tallis added that the Health and Safety Executive had attended all of the MCG's working groups that drew up the strategy and had checked data provided by contractors to make sure that it was consistent.

Tallis said: "We are trying to achieve an attitude change when it comes to health and safety, and by publishing our data in the public domain those who don't trust us will be able to measure us."

Commitment to the strategy document has been made a requirement for MCG membership.

The most significant element in the group's plans is the requirement that every member of a contractor's workforce on site be qualified in their respective trade.

As part of its strategy to improve safety, the Major Contractors Group has taken a decision to have a fully qualified workforce by December 2003. This mean that every person on an MCG site will be required to hold a card from one of the competence schemes

MCG Health and Safety Strategy Document

The rule will be phased in over the next two years.

Gas workers, scaffolders, streetworkers and plant workers will have to obtain their skills accreditation by the end of this year. All other trades must be 40% qualified by 31 December 2001, rising to 80% qualified by the end of 2002 and 100% qualified by the end of 2003.

The strategy document requires MCG members to set up health and safety forums to allow their workforces to raise safety issues. It commits employers to avoid taking "punitive action" or using "aggressive and confrontational language" with workers who do raise safety issues.

The document also says that every worker should have the right to stop work if he or she feels their safety to be at risk.