All construction companies face the same type of risk regardless of their size or the value of a contract. However, smaller companies will not often have the resource to deal with all legislative matters, which is where specialist insurance brokers like Centor can prove invaluable.  

Increasingly, UK construction companies not only have to deal with a mass of Health and Safety legislation but also, in an ever changing playing field of risk, you need to understand how to balance your risk management plans with your specific contractual, financial, operational and organisational requirements.  

Centor’s six basic principles  

Risk management in any area of construction is imperative, and some key principles can be relatively straightforward to apply with the right advice and support. Any size of construction firm should employ Centor’s six safety principles in their strategy:

• Fire hazards – Fires generally occur on-site due to the build up of paper and materials, or dangerous electrical scenarios. A tidy site will also reduce accidents and public and employers’ liability losses
  
  
• Security – The risk of arson is increased with poor security, as is the incidence of theft of tools, scaffolding and site materials and potential liabilities to the public and trespassers
  
  
• Good risk management should start prior to walking on site – A risk assessment should be specific to your site and to the job you are undertaking
  
  
• Initial communication – Your management team should communicate with everyone on site, including sub-contractors, starting with a method statement, risk assessments and a briefing on the equipment required for the contract
  
  
• Ongoing communication – This is particularly important if there are different languages used on-site
  
  
• Insurer / broker support – Your insurer or insurance broker should be fully and proactively advising you on the correct risk management for your site
  
  

If you’d like to discuss your risk management, health and safety, and insurance requirements with an expert in your market, then get in touch with Mark Allan, director of construction, at Centor Insurance & Risk Management.

Click here to download the pdf document 'Risk Management for the Construction Market'.