Bovis strict supply terms accepted by contractors

by Laura Hailstone

The strict new contract terms Bovis Lend Lease introduced to its supply chain earlier this year (CJ 13 February) have been "accepted well by contractors and suppliers alike", Bovis told CJ.

"It's encouraging to see the industry taking a positive attitude and recognising what we are trying to achieve with these new terms and conditions," said a Bovis spokesman. "They acknowledge what we're trying to do in terms of making life better on site and are happy to go along with it, so it would seem."

Bob Blackman, TGWU national secretary, hopes other major contractors will follow suit and introduce similar measures. "Mace has just introduced a similar type of thing to its supply chain and we hope these measures are something the Major Contractors Group could encourage its members to adopt."

The main aim of the new measures was to make Bovis sites "better and safer places to work". Asked if this has been achieved, the spokesman said: "That is a long-term initiative of Bovis and not something that can happen overnight. Initial reports from our sites have been good though, and these new measures can definitely help to push along our aim of making sites safer."

The new terms were introduced to Bovis' 50 UK preferred suppliers at the beginning of March, and included providing health and safety information in employees' native tongues, making accurate records of time keeping and absenteeism, and adopting the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.

All suppliers are monitored to ensure they are complying with the new measures. If any supplier is found to not be, Bovis will take "appropriate action". "There haven't been any instances as yet where we have had cause to impose any 'disciplinary measures'," said the spokesman.

Bovis subcontractor ABB is progressing well with the new contract terms. "Bovis has recently assessed ABB and awarded us its preferred supplier health and safety certificate, which we are very pleased about. Bovis was very impressed with the health and safety processes we had in place, which have fitted in nicely with Bovis' new terms," said David Lamb, ABB group account manager for Bovis.

Asked if other contractors should adopt similar measures, Lamb said: "It's in the industry's best interest to do all it can to improve health and safety. Bovis is very hot on health and safety."

Bovis hopes other contractors will follow its lead. "The industry does need these types of reform, and it needs to attract more people into construction. This can be done by making it a more attractive and safer place to work," said the spokesman.