Background
Buildsafe NI was established in 2003 as a five-year safety initiative for the construction industry run under the auspices of the Construction Industry Forum Northern Ireland. It was set against the background of 44 deaths and over 500 severely injured in the previous 10 years. Buildsafe NI brought together the public sector client, the industry, the trade unions and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland as partnering groups and was taken forward in the context of the existing legal obligations and requirements. Buildsafe NI has since been extended for a further 5 years.
Action Plans
Each of the partnering groups to the Initiative devised their own Action Plan to contribute to the overall aim and target. The Government Clients’ action plans are as follows: .
- Buildsafe NI - Government Clients 1st Action Plan (PDF, 3.67MB)
Further detail on the application of Buildsafe NI after 30 April 2006 is included in the associated 1st Action Plan Guidance Note (below). - Buildsafe NI - Government Clients 1st Action Plan - Guidance Note (PDF, 300KB)
- Buildsafe NI - Government Clients 2nd Action Plan (PDF, 87KB)
Update 1 – March 2010: Action 3 of the Buildsafe-NI initiative changed on 1 March 2010.
As part of the work of the Construction Industry Forum for Northern Ireland (CIFNI) Procurement Task Group, new procedures for the assessment of contractors’ competence in health and safety, have been developed.
A contractor who does not possess 3rd party certification of its health and safety management system will now be able to apply to be shortlisted for invitation to tender for a Government Construction Clients’ contract.
However, Government Construction Clients are committed to continuous improvement in health and safety within the industry. The contract will therefore include a requirement that, where a contractor does not possess 3rd party certification of its health and safety management system, the contractor shall be required to obtain such certification within 4 months of the contract award date and to maintain it for the duration of the contract.
This contract condition will be closely monitored by the Project Manager.
A new Buildsafe-NI Action Plan 2010, that includes this revised requirement, is currently being developed.
Health & Safety Report Template
Action Point 4 of the GCCG Buildsafe NI Second Action Plan introduced a requirement for the Principal Contractor to report regularly on health and safety matters. To ensure uniformity of reporting the Principal Contractor shall be required to use the Buildsafe - Contractors Health and Safety Report Template (PDF, 52KB) to report at each site meeting.
[Page last updated: 05 March 2010]