Costain technical director Bill Hewlett has urged the construction industry to make more use of a confidential reporting system for structural safety problems.
Hewlett has been appointed chairman of SCOSS, the Standing Committee on Structural Safety, which operates the Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety (CROSS) scheme. It operates across all industry sectors where structures are deployed, including energy and petrochemical as well as construction.
“SCOSS and CROSS offer a unique and invaluable service,” he said. “Reporting via CROSS is confidential and serves to bring about beneficial changes.
“I would encourage everyone, across all our sectors, to participate in the scheme… most importantly by reporting their own experiences of structural safety. Understanding hazards and risks is vital for structural safety.”
SCOSS is an independent body supported by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Health and Safety Executive, which reviews and reports on issues that affect the safety of structures. Appointment to the chair of SCOSS is at the invitation of the presidents of both ICE and IStructE.
Hewlett joined the SCOSS committee in 2011. He said his particular area of focus has been hazard awareness and engineering risk management. As chairman, Hewlett aims to improve and expand the organisation so that the safety and reliability of structures and infrastructure is further enhanced.
He said: “I am delighted to accept the role as chairman of SCOSS, working with a group of eminent engineers, to examine and alert all sectors to the reasons for any potential lapses in structural safety, as well as providing advice on how these lapses can be avoided in the future.”
Further information is available on the SCOSS website.
