Contractors’ Federation launches QEST

9 October 2005

Contractors’ Federation launches QEST for improved safety

The New Zealand Contractors’ Federation (NZCF) has launched QEST - an accredited civil construction management code designed to set benchmarks around occupational health and safety, environmental and quality risks associated with the industry.

QEST (Quality, Environment, Safety – Total Integrated Management) has been developed by NZCF based on Australia’s Civil Contractors’ Federation code. Contractors will be accredited via third-party annual audits.

NZCF Chief Executive Richard Michael says QEST provides a significant degree of assurance for clients, consulting engineers and contractors.

“We recognise the inherent health and safety risks associated with our industry,” says Mr Michael.

“QEST has been designed to provide a collection of operating procedures that define the processes an organisation employs to ensure its administrative and project work is carried out effectively, safely, efficiently and within legislative and regulatory requirements.

“We’re confident QEST will grow to become the industry benchmark by which clients can be assured the contractors they are working with adhere to the highest levels of safety and carry out their work with minimal environmental impact.”

Transit New Zealand is adopting QEST as one of its two approved health and safety system providers.

“In line with current legislation Transit must, as a key requirement for letting contracts, ensure that its contractors demonstrate well-established health and safety procedures,” says Transit National Procurement Manager Kevin Doherty.

“To maintain an environment of health and safety best practice on Transit worksites, we are becoming ever more stringent on this requirement. Accordingly, we welcome and support the adoption of the QEST health and safety system by members of the Contractors’ Federation,” says Dr Doherty.

Mr Michael says QEST is not just about safety because it integrates management procedures for Quality and Environment along with Safety to ensure construction projects are completed to a high standard with minimal impact on the environment.

“Quality management in construction has a long-term effect on the whole-of-life costs of a project with QEST ensuring specified quality requirements are met. In addition contractors can make savings during construction because QEST can assist in constructing the job once and doing it right.

“Construction work inevitably has some effect on the environment and QEST assists in identifying and managing construction activities to ensure minimum impact on the environment,” says Mr Michael.

ENDS

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