Why the Safety in Construction Programme. What does it deliver?

Safety is not an isolated measure, but an integral part of good construction. That is why the Safety in Construction Programme was launched: to structurally improve safety and make it part of every project, from initiative to demolition. Not as an extra task, but as a natural part of how we collaborate, design, build and manage.

We would like to keep you informed of developments within the programme.

The Cause
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) has investigated several incidents in the construction industry and made several observations. In 2018, in response, the OVV issued the advice to the design, construction and engineering sectors to improve structural safety in the design and construction process. In 2019, the addressed parties jointly responded with improvement proposals. These have been elaborated in the Safety in Construction Programme, which is currently being implemented.

Objective of the programme
Jointly, we have developed the Safety in Construction Programme, through which we will structurally increase integral safety across the full breadth of the construction sector. We grasp the concept of safety integrally with the following focus areas:

• Construction safety (including the necessary temporary structures)
• Site safety
• Environmental safety

This includes all phases of a project, from initiative and construction to management and demolition.

Together, we are building a safe sector. Will you join us?

Retrospective Safety Breakfast on May 23, 2025

On Friday 23 May 2025, the Governance Code Safety in Construction organised a special Safety Breakfast on the theme of Structural Safety. With some 120 professionals, we looked at and discussed the theme from three different perspectives: client, builder and constructor.

After a good breakfast, we started with a short introduction by our new chairman GCVB Core Group, Mario Broos and listened to a personal safety story and introduction to the theme by Wouter Bijman, managing director, of host organisation Witteveen+Bos.

With inspiring session leaders, we discussed the theme from three perspectives in sub-sessions:

• Structural safety from perspective Constructor
• Structural safety from a Builder's perspective
• Constructive safety from the perspective of the client

Together, the Safety Breakfast concluded by sharing the key learning points from the sessions. This eleventh Safety Breakfast was offered by Witteveen+Bos, co-signatory of the GCVB.

Guide on working safely with precast concrete hollow core and wide slab floors

When laying precast concrete duct and wide slab system floors, safety measures are often limited to personal protective equipment. While many accidents occur every year when working at height. Moreover, the Occupational Health and Safety Act says: collective measures as the minimum standard. That is why Aboma, Governance Code Safety in Construction, Bouwend Nederland and Transport en Logistiek Nederland have developed a guide with possible measures. With this tool, you can quickly see how to take safety measures at a higher level.

Loading, securing, transporting, unloading and processing precast concrete hollow core and wide slab floors entails safety risks. A number of large companies in the construction and transport sector and their trade associations want collective control measures to be applied from now on wherever possible, in line with the occupational hygiene strategy.

In the longer term, we want to move towards the elimination of safety risks by avoiding human actions as much as possible. The handouts developed, according to the latest technology, will give you insight into whether you can take safety measures at a higher level. It is always up to you to substantiate a specific choice in the project.

Deploying Traffic Controllers Together Safely

Using traffic controllers is sometimes necessary to make construction sites safe, but it carries considerable risks, both for the traffic controller and for the traffic itself. Fatal accidents have even occurred. Aggression against traffic controllers is also on the rise. The GCVB (Governance Code Safety in Construction) advocates that traffic controllers should only be deployed when really necessary and we can offer them a safe workplace. To this end, a Roadmap for the Safe Deployment of Traffic Controllers has been drawn up.

A permanently beautiful and safe roof

Building roofs are being used more and more intensively, for example for installing and maintaining PV systems, air conditioners and green roofs. Here, safety plays an important role. To ensure safety, building regulations impose requirements. By including safety provisions in the design in good time, you can create a safe solution at considerably lower cost, which is also more attractive at the same time. The Governance Code Safety in Construction (GCVB) calls attention to this. The Government Property Agency developed a roof safety tool. The tool provides designers with a handle on how to implement this.

'Leadership in Safety' central theme GCVB Safety Breakfast on 20 November 2024

Together with over 135 participants, the GCVB looks back on a successful Safety Breakfast on 20 November last in the beautiful ambiance of the Officers' Casino in Soesterberg. We were able to welcome not only private and public clients, but also large and small contractors, contractors and subcontractors. Various industry and trade associations were also represented.

Newsletter TOP-5 risks in construction

Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards are among the TOP-5 risks in the construction industry identified by the Governance Code of Safety in Construction (GCVB) three years ago. While serious incidents such as electrocution or arc incidents resulting in fatalities are rare, smaller accidents, such as electric shock, occur regularly. These can sometimes end with minor damage, but the difference from a serious workplace accident is small.

Things often go just fine until one time it goes really wrong

The dangers of electricity should not be underestimated! We are not always aware of the possible consequences. Permanent injury can be a nasty consequence. By making the whole sector more aware of these risks, we want to help reduce the likelihood of incidents.

Impression Safety Breakfast GCVB on 23 June 2023

On Friday morning 23 June 2023, the Governance Code Safety in Construction organised the seventh Safety Breakfast. This time, the breakfast took place at the Bouw & Infra Park Congress Centre in Harderwijk. Host organisation was the Acta Group. Jeroen Grond, Director of Safety Health Environment and Quality at Stedin joined the breakfast as a guest speaker.

For up-to-date news, check the Governance Code Safety Construction website.