Build UK works towards single safety assessment

Build UK is working alongside the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) on a reform of the pre-qualification system that will introduce a common safety assessment standard that all clients and accreditation providers would use.

The aim of the reform is to reduce the bureaucratic and repetitive process currently in place and would mean that safety accreditations provided by one provider – such as Achilles or Constructionline – would be fully recognised across the industry.

Build UK says increased commonality among accreditation and assessment can lead to:

• Companies providing a single set of pre-qualification information annually;
• Assessment against a common standard by a provider of choice;
• Removal of current repetitive and bureaucratic processes;
• Greater assurance to clients and main contractors that assessments meet their risk management requirements.

There are two key elements to the new system: a common assessment standard; and an online source of information.

Pre-qualification information would be held by the online source of information that can be accessed by suppliers, accreditors, and potential client organisations.

Contractors would only have to undergo one assessment per year, choosing between “core” and “enhanced” accreditation, and would then be fully qualified for all project tenders.

Core accreditation would be based on submitted documents, while enhanced accreditation would require a site visit.

The idea for a revised system stems from Build UK’s Action Plan.

The idea has also been supported by the Construction Leadership Council, which said: “The CLC welcomes and supports the proposed reform of the current pre-qualification process. This will remove duplication of effort and save the whole industry time and money and we will be encouraging adoption of this revised standard throughout government construction procurement.”

According to a spokesman from Build UK it is aiming to deliver the common assessment standard by the end of this year, with the new system up and running by 2018.