Construction Safety Governance Code (GCVB)
Improving safety culture in construction through collaboration
"In Nesselande, a construction worker gets trapped under large window frame and dies". Just a report from the newspaper of 26 March 2021. We see reports like this too often in the construction industry. This has to stop and we can only do so together with the parties involved, which is why KIVI has co-authored and signed the Governance Code for Safety in Construction (GCVB) . The bar is high. Our ambition is to help prevent all accidents in the construction sector, from the initiation phase to the use phase.
"It is unacceptable that there are still around 20 fatal accidents in Construction and Infra every year."
Purpose of the JCVB
The aim of the JCVB is to achieve, through cooperation, accountability and leadership, that we:
- increase environmental safety at structures and construction sites
- increase structural safety and contribute to safe construction works
- increase occupational safety in the construction and infrastructure sector
Role of KIVI
As the professional association of engineers in the Netherlands, KIVI stands for the safety of engineers. We are involved in the GCVB from the initiation phase and focus particularly on safety in the design, realisation and management phases, and occupational safety in the overall process.
Why is this necessary?
Many of our members work in the construction and infrastructure sector and it is important that they can work safely. There are laws and regulations and sector agreements and instruments to enhance safety in construction. Yet many accidents still occur and too many construction works are still delivered with safety deficiencies (such as at the Eindhoven car park and the AZ stadium).
To ensure that safety culture in the broad sense improves, leading construction companies and clients (construction, road/water/rail infrastructure and installation technology), consulting firms and KIVI have joined forces to draw up and sign the Governance Code for Safety in Construction (GCVB). We have established common principles and core values in the field of safety and want to harmonise working methods and unify instruments. This involves the entire construction chain.
"Many of our members work in this sector and I think it is important that we can work safely on safe construction works."
What has been achieved?
- One sector-wide National Safety Day since 2017.
- Introduction of the Generic Gate Instruction at all construction sites, implementation in 2018 and mandatory from 1 April 2019.
- Colour of safety clothing uniform orange by mid-2019.
- From 2022, make safety an official consideration in Selection / Tendering (ViA).
- Single policy collision hazard reduction from 1 January 2021.
- Joint awareness campaign 'Falling from height'.
Where do we stand?
- Number of signatories/subscribers stands at over 1,100 by 2023.
- Structural focus on TOP5 safety risks in construction: collision hazard, falls from height, electrification, lifting and transport of construction parts and materials and hazardous substances.
- Broadening safety cooperation throughout the chain with an increasing number of industry representatives.
Where do we go from here?
- Development of Uniform ReportApp within a broad Individual Learning and Development Platform (iLOP) with Bouwend Nederland and SSVV.
- Programme Safety in Construction together with NLingenieurs, Bouwend Nederland, Het Opdrachtgeversforum in de bouw and VNconstructeurs with the aim of structurally increasing the integral safety of design, construction and use across the full breadth of the design, construction and engineering sectors. There are three focus areas: directing safety, ensuring structural safety and strengthening learning capacity.
What can you contribute?
- Sign up for the theme group that supports the work of the GCVB from KIVI.
- Help bring in and develop topics from within the theme group.
- Share 'lessons learned', 'best practices' and learn from accidents and from each other.
- Become an ambassador of the GCVB in your organisation, share the knowledge and implement the tools.
- Become an Underwriter of the GCVB as an organisation.
Want to know more and stay informed?
Visit the GCVB website for knowledge, tools and news, or see a selection of news here.
For the latest developments in your mailbox, sign up for the free GCVB newsletter. Need a quick read? Here is the archive of all newsletters sent
GCVB can also be followed on LinkedIn. Follow the GCVB there!