Guide to Using the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 - Other - Page 105
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Addressing health and safety is a core requirement on any project and is backed
by substantial legislation. However, the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 does not make
specific reference to statutory legislation regarding health and safety for a number
of reasons:
• Legislation changes – avoiding specific references eliminates the need to alter
the RIBA Plan of Work if there are any changes to statutory legislation.
• Other statutory legislation, such as the Planning Acts and Building Regulations,
is not referenced in the RIBA Plan of Work 2013.
• Legislation typically represents a minimum legal requirement.
• Limiting safety aspects to complying with legislation does not encourage the
use of innovative approaches or harness progress made in approaches that
raise health and safety standards.
• Reference to health and safety legislation could only be made in summary form,
which would not encourage consideration of the subject in a detailed holistic manner.
Project roles
The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 embraces health and safety issues by clearly defining
each project role. Providing health and safety advice is a core obligation of any
professional role. Legislative requirements to manage this process are fulfilled
by the health and safety adviser, who ensures that any legislative duties and
requirements are carried out by the project team. As a key adviser to the client,
those undertaking the role are also encouraged to consider other health and safety
initiatives as part of a project Health and Safety Strategy and to contribute to the
development of the Risk Assessment process, the Maintenance and Operational
Strategy and, where appropriate, the Construction Strategy. These must all consider
health and safety in a proportionate, practical and holistic manner.
Each party undertaking a specific role or roles might also have a duty to comply
with other aspects of health and safety legislation. As noted above, these
requirements are not stated in the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 as they may change
from time to time. However, the Health and Safety Strategy would certainly
include Risk Assessments and some of the other strategies set out below to aid
compliance with such requirements.
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