Asda Retail devleopment :feature 2 21/08/2013 14:10 Page 91
RETAIL: ASDA RETAIL DEVELOPMENT Retail Development oversees the construction of new stores, it finds and develops the land, and carries out extensions and remodelling works on existing outlets within the company’s portfolio of stores. As such it utilises the services of approved subcontractors. To become an approved subcontractor, businesses must meet the stringent health and safety standards set by Asda. When Clive joined Asda in 2007 he quickly made changes to improve the competency of subcontractors through the use of a three stage Competency Assessment programme. “We haven’t gone down the approach of accepting CHAS or Safe Contractor, or any of the other safety accredited schemes, we’ve put together our own and we call it SAFE. The threestage approach involves inviting them in for interview where they present all the relevant documentation. We give feedback on that. Then we go to their office to see what the office is like and what their attitude is towards health and safety. Thirdly, we visit them onsite to see if they are putting competent health and safety procedures into practice.” Clive explains that it is important to not only take the time to investigate the competency of subcontractors, it is also vital to see how their health and safety procedures are carried out onsite. “We go that extra mile before we appoint them – do they mean what they say or are they saying it just to get the job? Then we go to some of their sites to see if it translates on to the workforce.”
www.bdcmagazine.co.uk
“AS AN EMPLOYER, IT IS OUR JOB TO ENSURE RISK IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND OUR WORKFORCE REMAINS SAFE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR JOBS” While vast improvements have seen Asda become a leader in health and safety best practice within the retail industry, Clive still targets a better overall attitude towards safety. “You can try harder on the short term but that doesn’t work in the long term, it’s about getting that culture change from top management right down to the onsite workers and continuing to get people to change their attitudes towards health and safety. “We have our behavioural schemes in place to administer that. It is less training, more orientation. It basically involves bringing staff in and getting them to buy into our beliefs. Often, I spin it around and use the idea of family values a lot. Everyone comes to work to get money to have a better life. When we bring staff in for health and safety orientation it is all about the possibility of having an accident at work affecting your ability to go on holiday or ultimately a lot worse. It is highlighting it in a way that makes sense. When
they go onsite they tend to be more safe as a consequence.” Clive has now left the role at Asda Retail Development to be replaced by Neil Sheehan. Neil has many years of experience working with Kier Group as its national Health, Safety and Environment manager. He said, “It’s all about working together for the safety of all. Within the construction sector there are always going to be instances where people could potentially be put at risk, whether this is working at height, lifting heavy equipment, or travelling for business purposes. “As an employer, it is our job to ensure this risk is kept to a minimum and our workforce remains safe in every aspect of their jobs. We are constantly updating and adapting our health and safety procedures to ensure new technologies and innovative ways of working are considered.” www.asda.com Tel: 0800 952 0101
BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE
91