Product category:
Building Trade Associations and Institutes
News Release from: NHBC
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 October 2005
Excelling at health and safety
Keepmoat Regeneration is the first company to receive an 'excellent' rating for its health and safety practices from the NHBC Audit and Accreditation scheme.
Keepmoat Regeneration is the first company to receive an 'excellent' rating for its health and safety practices from the NHBC Audit and Accreditation scheme The group, that includes Bramall Construction and Frank Haslam Milan, is the first to be awarded the top rating in the history of the NHBC scheme
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 22 Feb 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Industry first prompts zero tolerance on accidents
Keepmoat Regeneration has received NHBC's Health and Safety Accreditation for the third year running - an industry first.
NHBC solution to mixed-use development
Mixed-use developments are increasingly becoming centrepieces of the UK's inner cities.
The audit and accreditation process uses NHBC's near 70 year's experience of health and safety in the house-building industry, plus guidance from the HSE, to make health and safety issues integral at every stage of design, planning and construction.
A three stage approach is adopted, encompassing a company's written health and safety procedures, employee understanding of these systems and finally an on site evaluation.
Accreditation is only achieved if all three areas meet the required standards.
Further reading
Improving standards of health and safety
A major drive to improve standards of health and safety in the Scottish house building industry has been launched.
New approach to site supervision NVQ
New approach to site supervision NVQ could halve time to qualification, says NHBC
NHBC simple steps to cut deaths on site.
Following recent accidents involving vehicles on the worksite, NHBC has drawn up a list of tips which should be followed to ensure health and safety.
Keepmoat Regeneration specialises in social housing refurbishment and has offices in Yorkshire, Manchester, Merseyside, the North East and West Midlands and operates across the North of England.
The company has completed work on over 24,000 properties in 2004.
As the bulk of its work involves working in occupied homes, the company believes health and safety has to be a top priority right through from the boardroom to the building site, in this challenging environment.
Roger Ward, Regeneration Director for Keepmoat explains; "When working in occupied properties you have to get it right first time, every time".
"We have put a great deal of time and resources into establishing our health and safety policies and making sure these are understood and integrated into daily operations".
"Every level of management is involved, not only the development of the theory and translating this into work on-site, but also in educating tenants and the broader community as to the importance of health and safety".
Simon Mantle, health and safety services manager of NHBC stated; "Keepmoat has achieved such a high level of health and safety competence through a combination of good communication, supportive management structure and an emphasis on training".
"It is no mean feat for an organisation to receive this grade, particularly one that works in such unique conditions".
The company's policies are derived from best practice guidelines and advice from NHBC and the HSE, plus through the learning process from everyday experiences on site to ensure continuous improvement.
Keepmoat has dedicated safety representatives on every site that monitor daily performance and report back to site managers every week.
All staff receive health and safety training in accordance with the Keepmoat health and safety charter.
This includes first aid, 5 day SMSTS, risk assessment and method statement production, CDM updates refresher training and scaffold awareness.
Specialist training is given where required to ensure compliance.
All workers also receive regular training on a range of practical issues as well as aspects such as risk assessments and method statements.
The company believes in a fully trained workforce and has a target of 100% CSCS compliance for subcontractors.
Heath and safety does not stop at the site office door either with policies and procedures implemented across the group.
Regular information on incidents and developments is distributed in offices, as well as on site, so all employees can be informed and benefit from advice.
The organisation chose the NHBC Audit and Accreditation scheme after looking at a range of health and safety schemes offered to the house-building industry.
Roger Ward commented; "We wanted to benchmark our company procedures against industry standards and felt the NHBC audit gave the most honest appraisal and provided a good level of practical advice, appropriate to us.".
• NHBC: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
