ODA publishes Health and Safety Standard

As part of the 'Be Part of 2012' Roadshow which is touring the UK Jack Lemley, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), set out the organisation's HS&E Standard.

Jack Lemley, speaking at the East Midlands Business Forum, part of the 2012 Roadshow, said:

"The ODA HS&E Standard is a key building block to ensuring the health and safety of all workers involved in constructing the Olympic venues. Our policy is based around consultation and engagement. We want to minimise risk for construction workers, facility users and legacy maintenance staff and make the London 2012 Games healthier and safer by design. Of course it is impossible to eliminate totally risk, but our policy will go a long way in allowing us to mitigate against it. Equally this Standard is as much about promoting health as it is about reducing risk and injury."

The ODA's HS&E Standard states that:

1. We have committed to work to minimise accidents with an aim to achieve no more than one reportable accident for every million man hours worked.

2. The ODA will publicly report its health and safety performance against explicit targets, which will announced once construction work is underway. These will be developed with the Delivery Partner and our designers and contractors.

3. No work package/phase of construction work will be allowed to commence until sufficient health and safety plans and method statements have been fully developed and adopted.

4. All construction workers on-site will have access to health checks and those identified with ill-health conditions will be offered advice and guidance to enable them to safely retain their jobs.

5. The ODA will have a zero tolerance policy regarding unsafe practices or unhealthy conditions.

6. We believe that a well-informed, engaged and competent workforce is one of the keys to unlocking healthy and safe construction, so we are committed to a target of every construction worker on our site holding a valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme card, and we are already working with colleagues in the London Development Agency to work out effective ways to achieve this while ensuring local employment opportunities.

7. Designers of venues and infrastructure will have to provide evidence on how their designs have eliminated and reduced exposure to the risk of accidents and ill health during construction, and also for Games and legacy use.

Mr Lemley also confirmed the appointment of Lawrence Waterman as ODA Head of Health and Safety. Mr Waterman, a former president of IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), will head up the health and safety team responsible for ensuring the well-being of thousands of people who will work on building the sporting arenas and other infrastructure facilities necessary to delivery the Games, and also to ensure safety is considered not only during the building stages of the project but also in Games and Legacy mode.

Mr Lemley said:

"Lawrence is a first class appointment. His wealth of experience in health and safety and his excellent work around occupational health at Heathrow Terminal 5 give an added dimension to our HS&E policy and will ensure that workers on site have access to the best health care provisions."

Mr Waterman is also Chairman of health and safety consultancy Sypol, and was Occupational Health Advisor to Heathrow Terminal 5 during the planning phase.


Download the ODA Design and Construction Health and Safety Standard (PDF, 2.5MB)

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Notes to Editors

Photographs of Lawrence Waterman are available on request.

Media Enquiries

Contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on 0203 2012 700