NEWSBRIEF

RICS updates health and safety guidelines

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will update its health and safety guidelines by the end of this year. The RICS will also make health and safety knowledge mandatory for members seeking an assessment of professional competence in any of its 16 faculties; at present this is only mandatory in the construction faculty. Also discussions are underway with RICS-accredited universities to ensure that health and safety courses are available to all surveying students. A research project designed to identify the points in the construction process where accidents occur is also being prepared. Preliminary findings may be ready during the first half of 2002.

Online substance directory released

The European Commission has published an online directory of dangerous substances in construction products. The database includes country guides for each member state, outlining the relevant national regulations controlling what kind of substances are banned or permitted and in what circumstances. There is also a compendium of dangerous substances themselves, linked to lists of relevant regulations in different member states. For more information visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction/internal/dangsub/dangmain.htm

Gleeson offers incentive for safety

Gleeson's northern construction division has introduced a voucher incentive scheme to boost safety standards on site. A £10 voucher is awarded weekly to the operative judged by the site manager to have demonstrated good safety standards.

YJL launches asbestos division

YJL Construction has launched a new asbestos surveying and removal division, YJL Environmental Services. The division, licensed by the Health & Safety Executive, offers initial survey and report, followed by removal or encapsulation of any asbestos products found. The division is based at YJL's Chiswick High Road base in London.

birse wins 13 safety awards

Birse Construction has picked up 12 Gold Awards and one Silver Award for construction safety performance from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The company's north west, north east, Midlands and south east divisions all received Gold Awards, while Birse Rail picked up a Silver Award.

ECA introduces zero accident initiative

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) is to introduce a new initiative aimed at improving site safety. The Zero Accident Programme (ZAP) sets out the targets of reducing the number of reportable lost time injuries by 30%, cutting major accidents by 40% and achieving zero fatal accidents. The programme will be unveiled at the ECA's ZAP Safety conference on 23 October.

CIC announces card system for designers

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced proposals to set up its own card system for designers. Plans for the card initiative, unveiled at the CIC's special council meeting dedicated solely to health and safety last week, mirror the card system imposed on contractors by the Major Contractors Group (MCG). Gillian Birkby, who chairs the CIC's health and safety taskforce, said: "What designers need to be thinking about on site is whether risky work, such as working at height, is really necessary." CIC will be putting the scheme on hold until the MCG initiative has been reviewed.