Tuesday 24 November 2020
Updated Approved Codes of Practice for the local construction industry have been introduced by the Health and Safety Executive in Guernsey.
The new codes have been in development for more than a year, and is amended to include the very latest best practice.
Chief Health & Safety Officer Robin Gonard said:
"Construction and building work is by its very nature a high-risk occupation, with people involved in this sector having to work in arduous conditions, often exposed to the elements, in a constantly changing workplace, which is taking form and shape as a result of their activities. The aim of this code is to help busy construction professionals in Guernsey carry out their tasks using appropriate control measures in what remains a high-risk industry.
"The Guernsey Construction (Design and Management) Approved Code of Practice 2020 [CDM] comes into effect on 2nd December 2020, and the industry has a period until the end of May 2021 to adapt to the new system.
"For most small projects, the CDM approach will require more coordination of construction work with other contractors, but the construction standards and health and safety precautions required have not changed.
"For larger projects, there is a greater emphasis on pre-construction planning, and the role of the health and safety project coordinator is crucial to ensuring that designers, principal contractors and subcontractors work together effectively to protect the health and safety of construction workers."
The code provides practical advice on how to meet the legal requirements set out in the associated Ordinance. Following the ACoP means enough is being done to comply with the law. If prosecuted for a breach of Health & Safety Law, and it is proved the ACoP relevant provisions had not been followed, it would need to be shown that the law was followed in another way or the court will find you at fault.
The Codes of Practice can be viewed at: https://gov.gg/CDM.
