The HSE has launched a campaign to raise awareness among property
developers in the SME bracket about their duties under the Construction
(Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
A dedicated website has been set up to give developers free advice on how to comply with their health and safety responsibilities. It is built around three key themes of employing a competent team, understanding the structural risks and hazards associated with a building, and planning a successful project. A specially-tailored leaflet will also be distributed via auction houses and direct mailing.
Mike Cross, head of operations in construction at the HSE’s North-West division, stressed that many people who developed property were ignorant of their legal duties under the CDM Regulations. In many cases, Cross pointed out, they might not employ a competent structural engineer when making structural changes to buildings, or be aware if asbestos was present. He added: “An astute property developer doesn’t buy a property without understanding what they’re buying.”
Robert Parkes, project manager for the campaign: “Tragically, last year, 38 people died on these types of projects, and many more were injured, or suffered ill health because of poor health and safety practices. Whether you think of yourself as a property investor, developer, or renovator, everyone has a role to play in helping reduce the number of serious and sometimes fatal incidents.”
Asked by SHP if the Executive was concerned that the recession, and particularly the depressed housing market, could encourage property developers to compromise good health and safety, Parkes responded: “To reiterate something that Judith Hackitt has said, we don’t want people taking short-cuts, because we know that health and safety can be one of the first things that goes.”
The campaign has been developed with the help of stakeholders, including the Construction Clients Group and the Unite union. Chris Tisi, who chairs the campaign stakeholder group, commented: “I’ve been involved in development of property in various capacities over 35 years and found that health and safety has to be an integral part of any project in bringing it to completion on time and to budget. In my experience, a safe and healthy site is a successful site.”
To view the campaign website, click on the link below.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/property
