AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES Brian C Heath BSc, MSc, MRICS Directorate of Technology and Computer Science, NEWI, Plas Coch, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY The influence of the client is seen as being a key issue in promoting health and safety on site The question arises, however, as to whether it is a positive or a negative influence

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY LATHAM and EGAN Have they missed the point? Is client satisfaction more important than safe working practices? Is the construction process too separate from the product? Is Partnering the answer?

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY What is the culture in construction? Cooperation and consensus or Competition and Conflict? Research findings would suggest the latter Is Partnering the answer?

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY RESULTS Client %age Contractor %age Quantity Surveyor Project Manager Director Client Manager Engineer Architect Designer Recruitment Manager Head of Procurement The sample is, it is suggested, fairly representative of client and contracting organisations All respondents felt that they were aware of the general principles and objectives of partnering with 73 % of the client group and 91% of the contractor group having had involvement with partnering in the past. For the most part partnering appeared to be client driven with only 20% of respondents reporting contractor driven partnering arrangements.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY RESULTS 81% of the client group and 91% of the contractor group were aware of the Latham and Egan Reports. 75% and 51% of the groups respectively felt that it was too early to tell if the targets were being achieved. Confidence in the effect of the reports was marginally higher in the contractor group who were also more confident that the relationship between client and contractor had improved since the Latham Report: 60% compared with 38% in the client group and that the potential for conflict was lessened. The vast majority of the sample group felt that partnering to succeed must be applied throughout the supply chain.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY RESULTS ClientContractor Do you feel that a true partnering arrangement can never exist owing to the opposing interests of he two parties Yes No Do you agree that partnering has been well received or disagree and feel that is there still a degree of apathy and cynicism Ag Dis Where partnering is used do you feel that clients place too much emphasis upon their own accountability at the expense of the true aims of partnering? Yes No S/T Would you say that contractors pay too much attention to the profit element that is generated rather than embracing the overall objectives of partnering? Yes No S/T Do you feel that partnering will one day replace the more traditional competitive tendering process? Yes No

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY RESULTS Despite the clear appreciation of the benefits of partnering there still remains a strong suggestion of cultural problems within the construction industry. There is clearly a reluctance to depart from the traditional methods of cost control through competitive tendering. This, combined with evidence that the contractor is still overly concerned with profitability and the client team with accountability, does not portray a picture of an industry likely to put health and safety first

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IMPLEMENTING HEALTH AND SAFETY THE ROLE OF THE CDM REGULATIONS CDM is intended to protect the health and safety of people working in construction and others who may be affected by their activities. The Regulations require the systematic management of projects from concept to completion: hazards must be identified and eliminated where possible and the remaining risks reduced and controlled. This approach reduces risks during construction work and throughout the life cycle of a structure (including eventual demolition) Managing H&S in Construction HSE 2002

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IMPLEMENTING HEALTH AND SAFETY THE ROLE OF THE CDM REGULATIONS The HSE (1997) in investigating the effectiveness of the CDM Regulations found that both clients and contractors were generally supportive of the regulations and had reacted positively to them in terms of amending their own policies but that there were some concerns which existed relating to the increase in bureaucracy which the regulations imposed which had no apparent impact on efficiency. Client concern was regarding the financial implications rather than with the operational benefits. Contractor concern centred on subcontractor communication and risk transference.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IMPLEMENTING HEALTH AND SAFETY THE ROLE OF THE CDM REGULATIONS: New Directions The HSE in preparing the new ACoP has considered carefully the role of the Client and lays down in paragraph 15 of the ACoP certain rules, including, That the project allows enough time for design, planning, preparation and construction work, so that the entire project can be carried out safely and without risk to health. That the designers and contractors are competent and adequately resourced for the work they have to do This is a clear responsibility on clients to ensure that when they make demands in respect of design time and contract periods they consider the H&S impact.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTNERING IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IMPLEMENTING HEALTH AND SAFETY THE ROLE OF THE CDM REGULATIONS: New Directions Despite the emphasis placed upon the pivotal role of the contractor in determining the culture of contractual relations, the key issue for health and safety lies in the pivotal role of the client in influencing the status of health and safety management as a key issue in the procurement process rather than its present position as being one item on a list dominated by the lowest cost as a criteria for selection. The indications from the research are that Partnering will not produce this change in emphasis – enforcement of the CDM Regulations in line with the focus given by the new ACoP may well have the desired effect.