Construction: approved code of practice (ACoP 11) (revoked on the 1 October 2016)

01 January 2015

​The Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), for Managing Health and Safety in Construction, ACoP 11, came into force on 1 January 2015.

ACoP 11 applies to construction work where there are two or more contractors engaged to carry out the work. It provides practical guidance on how health and safety can be managed for both small and major projects.

Background

The introduction of the ACoP is in line with the recommendations of the working party of the Jersey Construction Council (JeCC), the representative body for the construction industry. 

The JeCC working party recognised the need for changes to health and safety legislation to improve the performance of the industry. They requested the introduction of an interim document, pending the development of new prescriptive health and safety regulations for construction to replace the existing Construction (Safety Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations, 1970.  

Review of industry

A review of the industry’s performance over the last five years has identified that:

• work related accidents and ill health to construction workers has, on average, resulted in over 30% of all claims made each year for Short Term Incapacity Allowance (STIA). (In 2013 construction workers represented 9% of the working population in Jersey)
• in 2013, this percentage of claims did reduce to 24% but over 4,000 working days were still lost
• over the last five years, 1,174 construction workers have suffered a work related accident or from ill health which has resulted in a claim for STIA
• claims for STIA have resulted in over £600,000 in benefit payments
• 20 construction companies have been prosecuted in the Courts, resulting in fines and costs approaching £500,000; and
• the Inspectorate has served 62 enforcement notices as a result of poor standards identified in the arrangements for construction work.

Following the practical guidance set out in the ACoP will not only improve the management of health and safety on construction sites, but also help to confirm that the general duties set out under Part 2 of the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law, 1989, are being met.

Managing health and safety in construction