This resource was sourced from NRSPP: Laing O’Rourke Australia: Top Of The Chain: Leadership In Safety Standards Cascades For Benefit Of All
Synopsis
Mandating safety standards as part of project contracts can increase safety performance across the supply chain without impeding project delivery. It is also an opportunity for organisations to build a reputation as safety leaders while making people in their industry, and their community, safer.
Key Outcomes
- Mandating safety standards as part of project contracts is an effective way to increase safety performance across the supply chain without impeding project delivery
- Being upfront about safety expectations early in the tendering process allows organisations to plan how to comply and factor any additional costs into bids
- Clear communication is critical in ensuring all parties understand expectations and the consequences of not meeting expected standards
- Leadership is required: you must be prepared to turn trucks away or not engage suppliers if they do not meet project standards
- Benefits of insisting on specific safety standards in major projects flow to the community by reducing interactions with heavy vehicles in urban areas, particularly with pedestrians and other road users
- Projects taking this approach are becoming more common, with examples in Australia and overseas demonstrating safety benefits to organisations involved and the community