Product category:
Roofing
News Release from: National Federation of Roofing Contractors | Subject: Removal of qualification schemes
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 April 2008
NFRC calls for removal of qualification
schemes
NFRC is working with key partners in reducing the vast amount of qualification scheme's pre-tender or pre-let questionnaires imposed onto them by contractors and clients.
NFRC has joined with its umbrella organisation the National Specialist Contractor Council (NSCC), along with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and Federation of Master Builders (FMB), to establish a standard form that will be accepted by everyone as at least the first stage of compliance by all clients and contractors "Where required, NFRC believes that qualifications schemes have their place in the industry as an additional vetting process"
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 17 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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"Due credit, should though, in the first place be given to members of reputable trade organisations, such as NFRC.
In many cases qualification schemes duplicate information such as the completion of health and safety audits".
"NFRC would like to see a more time and cost effective system put in place" said NFRC's Health and Safety Committee Chairman Mike Long.
Clients and in particular local authorities use external agencies to undertake this additional vetting process.
The questions asked, varied depending on the contractor from some very basic health and safety requirements to in depth details covering sensitive areas such as finance and directors personal information.
NFRC and its partners are proposing that a standard form will cover all the health and safety aspects required by the new Construction Design and Management regulations core criteria and possibly selected most frequently asked questions on existing schemes.
With every client and local authority often employing a different vetting organisation, each with their own non-compatible pre-qualification procedures and questions, members face the task of completing various audits accumulating in financial and time costs with no guarantee of a return".
""The industry acknowledges that it will not be easy process to simplify current practices while there is a commercial incentive to continue as it is at present".
"Therefore we are calling for the help and support of all affected to challenge clients and contractors to justify the need to enrol members in yet another scheme when it has already been demonstrated that the member complies by virtue of pre-qualification through a similar scheme and being a member of a reputable trade association" added Mr Long.
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