Engineering firms Atkins, Arup, Halcrow and Mott MacDonald have come together to launch a health and safety assessment for the international construction community.
The four companies, under the banner of the Consultants H&S Forum, have worked with ConstructionSkills to develop a health and safety assessment based on a software programme described as suitable for international application. The assessment is to be conducted on location in company offices under local supervision, with a certificate awarded upon successful completion of 50 questions selected at random.
Keith Clarke, chief executive at Atkins, said: “Health and safety should have no boundaries. This is why is it is important that we work together, through the Consultants H&S Forum, to lead on and work with other stakeholders within the industry to improve health and safety standards globally. Design and engineering organisations can make significant contributions because of our client involvement and ability to reduce safety risk through design.”
The Consultants H&S Forum will be coordinating the international implementation of the assessment with ConstructionSkills, with initial focus on the Middle East, followed by India, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and North America. The new assessment does not apply to the UK, as the ConstructionSkills health and safety test is already a requirement of many card schemes in the country.
The Consultants H&S Forum comprises: Atkins – www.atkinsglobal.com; Arup – www.arup.com; Halcrow – www.halcrow.com; Mott MacDonald – www.mottmac.com
I think that the Construction H&S Assessment is a very good idea, and must be carried out with all supports across the global.
This assessment will particularly help the African continent as H&S at most of the road construction industries are not up to standard to prevent injuries and illnesses.
I will be interested in this H&S Forum and be available also for an African country’s local coordinator. I am currently working with an oil industry as H&S and Env. Coordinator in Ghana. Thanks