Inspectors describe safety at North West Cambridge development as ‘exceptional’
Hemel Hempstead, 20 October 2015 - Safe working practices at a multi-million pound construction development in Cambridge have been singled out for high praise. The approach to safe working of the firm behind the £80 million lots 1 and 3 schemes of the North West Cambridge Development – BAM Construction – was rated as ‘exceptional’ by the independent inspectors, the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).
CCS Monitor Stan Marlow praised the appointment of a full time on-site health and safety adviser as well as initiatives such as pedestrian zone protection and breakfast rewards for good staff safety performance. Marlow gave the project 9 out of 10 for safety as well as 8 out of ten – equating to an ‘excellent’ rating – for all other criteria. These include appearance, community respect, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce.
BAM’s project manager Shaun Harris said: ‘We know from experience that we are only as good as the people on our site. Our workforce is highly valued and their opinions are important to us. We build a strong community on site by genuinely listening to the workforce, addressing their needs and gaining their trust. Together this creates a positive culture and the goal sharing improves behaviour and results in a safe site.’
Situated within the heart of the North West Cambridge Development, the works include 352 homes for the University and College key workers built to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5, as well as a supermarket and retail units, a doctors surgery, and the shell of the energy centre built to BREEAM Excellent standard.
Gavin Heaphy, Construction Director of the North West Cambridge Development, said: ‘At the North West Cambridge Development we are working very closely with our whole team to ensure we achieve an approach to health, safety and environmental issues that exceeds the industry norm. HS&E are always at the top of our agenda and the CCS inspectors’ praise for BAM Construct’s ‘exceptional’ rating is well deserved. I believe this recognition is a result of great work by BAM in understanding our high aspirations as a client and working with a great team that is going above and beyond to deliver.’
BAM Construction is the company behind the recent Cambridge UTC, and the massive £175 million Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) for the Medical Research Council.