'Let construction practice be the guide'

Construction safety requires a proactive role from project parties, who should be best able to do so in terms of content. Nevertheless, the call for an independent safety director is increasing: Minister Ollongren (BZK) even wants such to be established, in response to conclusions of the Dutch Safety Board after recent construction disasters. "Aboma has the knowledge and expertise to properly support building safety processes, based on understanding each point of view," says general manager of Advice Pieter Visser.

"I am adapting building regulations by designating one central party for environmental safety in line with occupational safety," Ollongren wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives last September. It is not that far yet. Visser: "Let me first of all say that things need to be well organized, but there are snags in such an approach." Aboma Advies has traditionally had both feet firmly on the ground, and that is where the direction of solutions lies, Visser says. "Each project is so unique, in terms of location, contract formation and cooperating parties, that customization in terms of safety aspects is always required. Construction processes often turn out to be complex. Much more has been arranged than you would think on the basis of media reports, and once the end result is in place everyone is generally satisfied.

Environmental Manager
Let practice be the guide, Visser argues. Throw such a statement into the group at a construction meeting and there will be nods of agreement from executing parties, designers and clients. "There are already many good initiatives, but what kind of mandate does an environmental manager have, for example, who is his boss and is he involved in all phases? We believe that interested parties - including the municipality - should make binding agreements on building safety upfront in the process. If they don't, then a party that has been addressed goes on the offensive or takes a formal stance. Building partners can often do more in collaboration than they think, but they must take that role. From client to supplier. This is sometimes difficult, because not everyone is at the table prior to tendering. But put them in as soon as you can, based on what was agreed upon beforehand."

Building Safety Plan
Then it might be about leaving the construction site safely or demarcating the construction site in the context of environmental safety. "On paper, we can do it all, but it must also be well organized in practice. Aboma Advies can support in this, both on behalf of the contractor and the client, for example with risk analyses and a project-specific building safety plan." The latter must be in place in all cases. And as for the safety director desired by the minister? "Who that is and which party he or she works for can be determined together as stakeholders, and with practice as a guide," Visser says. "However, safety director is a complex function that involves all forms of safety: environmental, (temporary) construction, traffic, occupational health and safety and social. These aspects cannot be separated and the safety director must be able to stand above all parties, because the measures to be taken may conflict with the interests of stakeholders."