The Association for Project Safety (APS), the leading professional institution in the field of construction health and safety risk management – has marked its 20th anniversary with a drinks reception at the House of Lords in London, where it highlighted achievements from its twenty years of operation and presented outcomes from the first-ever pan industry CDM forum.
The event, held on Tuesday (23 February), featured a keynote speech from host Lord Brougham and Vaux CBE, and addresses from Oliver Colvile, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport and the Chair of the Built Environment and APS President Richard Wilks.
More than 60 key industry figures and Members of Parliament attended the event. Many of which had recently attended the pan industry forum held at the Royal Institute on Tuesday 16 February; an event organised by APS in conjunction with Construction Clients’ Group and Construction Industry Council.
Launched in 1995, APS is a unique, multi-disciplinary membership organisation that supports individuals and organisations involved in the construction of the built environment. More specifically APS support those responsible for managing and controlling the health and safety risks arising from the design of construction work.
To mark the significant anniversary, APS President Richard Wilks highlighted the continuing work of APS to support industry implement the CDM2015 Regulations.
Richard told guests how the CDM regulations and the work of APS Members had contributed to reducing deaths in construction from around 200 per year 20 years ago to around 40 in 2015. He noted that 40 was not a figure to be proud of and that furthermore, much more work is needed.
Richard Wilks, APS President, said: “It was fantastic to mark the twentieth anniversary of APS at the House of Lords.
“With our 20 years of experience in design and construction risk management, we believe APS is in a unique position and we’re doing everything in our power to help the construction industry raise its game and meet the challenges – we’re developing new training and education, we’re providing guidance and support, and we’re engaging with all the stakeholders and duty holders to help them understand and accept their new responsibilities.
“I believe APS has developed into the accepted and credible design and construction risk management organisation in the UK.”
In his address Oliver Colvile, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport and the Chair of the Built Environment, spoke about the importance of the work he is doing as Chair of the Built Environment all party group in ensuring that in the Government’s drive to build new homes, that aspects such as skills capacity within the building industry and quality of design are not forgotten.
Richard concluded with a toast to APS and set out the commitment to:
