The National House-Building Council (NHBC) is to launch their own health and safety support service as figures have shown that self-certification administration is a problem for subcontractors.
The NHBC has advised that almost 40% of subcontractors are losing work over health and safety issues. These findings have encouraged the NHBC to initiate their own health and safety support service.
In accordance with the CDM regulations, subcontractors and contractors must demonstrate how they will effectively and competently manage health and safety issues on every new tender and a health and safety policy is to be included.
However, self-certification is a huge demand on time and money claims the NHBC, and even competent subcontractors are left hesitant regarding the issue, which is resulting in them losing bids.
Subsequently, NHBC has established SafeMark, a third party pre-qualification assessment scheme to help those in the house building industry. Its purpose is to save time, involving an initial assessment which is valid for one year.
Simon Mantle, health and safety manager at the NHBC said of the new scheme: "It is vital that subcontractors are fully prepared for all health and safety issues and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is having a real push on competence to reflect this."
"We know from our research that many subcontractors across the industry are competent - it's just a question of proving it. For some, and particularly smaller firms, the administration involved with this is simply not practical."
SafeMark is accredited to the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) standard. For more information view the NHBC's Health and Safety Competence Assessment Scheme Leaflet
The NHBC has advised that almost 40% of subcontractors are losing work over health and safety issues. These findings have encouraged the NHBC to initiate their own health and safety support service.
In accordance with the CDM regulations, subcontractors and contractors must demonstrate how they will effectively and competently manage health and safety issues on every new tender and a health and safety policy is to be included.
However, self-certification is a huge demand on time and money claims the NHBC, and even competent subcontractors are left hesitant regarding the issue, which is resulting in them losing bids.
Subsequently, NHBC has established SafeMark, a third party pre-qualification assessment scheme to help those in the house building industry. Its purpose is to save time, involving an initial assessment which is valid for one year.
Simon Mantle, health and safety manager at the NHBC said of the new scheme: "It is vital that subcontractors are fully prepared for all health and safety issues and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is having a real push on competence to reflect this."
"We know from our research that many subcontractors across the industry are competent - it's just a question of proving it. For some, and particularly smaller firms, the administration involved with this is simply not practical."
SafeMark is accredited to the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) standard. For more information view the NHBC's Health and Safety Competence Assessment Scheme Leaflet
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