Strategic Forum unveils new initiative to avoid site disputes

A new initiative has been unveiled by the Strategic Forum in an effort to reduce the number of disputes and power struggles on construction sites across the country.

'10 commandments', described by forum chairman Peter Rogers as a 'communication matrix', will clearly list the aims and objectives clients and contractors must adhere to to prevent the use of under-hand tactics.

"We will get all site stakeholders to sign up to the one-page document so that there can be no disagreements," said Rogers. "This will give a clear focus to the team and could hopefully reduce the amount of litigation we are seeing in construction."

The initiative has already received funding, believed to be around £20,000, from the Department of Trade & Industry. Consultants are now being sought who will spend three months disseminating documents such as Respect for People into bullet points.

Feedback will also be taken from focus groups made up of clients, professionals, contractors and private and public sector clients to help create a list of priority areas for each member of the supply side.

"We need quick and sharp points," said Rogers. "Respect for People is a great document but people don't have time to read it all. To make radical and quick changes we need to move fast and disseminate piles of information in a matter of weeks."

The draft commandments are expected to be presented to the forum before being posted on construction sites in June.