Aimed at improving the overall health, safety and welfare within the construction industry, a group of forward thinking professionals will be launching BuildSafe South Africa. The organisation’s founding members Sasol Technology, Aveng Grinaker-LTA, Murray & Roberts and Fluor and Foster Wheeler are working together to benefit the industry.

The non-profit organisation, BuildSafe South Africa advocates the free exchange and sharing of information between organisations working in the South African construction industry. It represents construction-related stakeholder organisations, who will publicly express their commitment and dedication to help improve the health, safety and welfare conditions of all workers.

Information sharing sessions will ensure better awareness, from all personnel levels, playing its part to achieve an ‘incident and injury-free work place’ for all. This initiative was successfully implemented in the UAE and following that model, leading representatives envisage that South Africa can follow suit in its desired outcomes and key objectives.

According to Shane van der Nest, Fluor HSE Director, the BuildSafe Initiative is “aimed at influencing the construction industry’s attitude and disposition towards health, safety and welfare for workers through improving overall awareness and understanding”.

Sasol Technology Executive Manager – People Management, Dawid Heymans said that “the construction industry is lagging behind the mining sector in its overall health and safety performance. Being a part of this initiative is going to work towards closing that gap”.

“BuildSafe advocates the proven principle of safety, investment and return. It is in the industry’s interest to ensure that we continue to invest in the safety, health and environment on our construction sites. Safety is paramount, profits are secondary,” says Grahame McCaig, Managing Director of Aveng Grinaker-LTA.

Nigel Harvey, Managing Director of Murray & Roberts adds that “the industry has to adopt an attitude of being open in recording incidents faced. In managing construction projects going forward, this will create awareness and ensure that accidents are prevented and minimised”.

David Bass, BSA Administrator says that companies with a vested interest should “actively participate in this initiative, designed to get information to the majority of the 55,000 construction contractors and associated stakeholders. The website provides information which will benefit your workforce.”

For further information visit: info@buildsafe.co.za