Benefits of good OSH in construction and infrastructure procurement

Businesses in the construction and infrastructure procurement sector, in particular, can see their economic performance improve significantly with good OSH.

Every construction project needs to deliver on time, with the right quality and to budget, while also avoiding accidents and ill health. Good OSH can help deliver both.

Figures show that the construction sector accounts for significantly more work-related accidents than other sectors. The EU construction industry is estimated to be worth €902 billion a year, and with accident and ill-health costs in the sector totalling 8.5% of project costs, that means that poor OSH standards in construction could be costing over €75 billion each year – nearly €200 for each member of the population.

Because of this, there is growing recognition among leading public and private sector clients of the OSH benefits for infrastructure and other major projects, and they are taking on a greater role and responsibility for setting the OSH standards for major projects.

The benefits of good OSH in construction include quicker and more cost effective completion of projects, higher profit margins, and greater likelihood of becoming the preferred supplier of choice.

But the benefits can only be achieved if clients are prepared to take a lead by taking ownership of the project in terms of OSH standards, and working in partnership with all contracting parties. Clients set the objectives; they control the resources and ultimately clients set the OSH performance standards for the project.

Public bodies have an especially high responsibility in this area, since they can influence the market very strongly through their enormous purchasing power. They are in a position to provide an example of best practice of inclusion of OSH standards in the procurement of public projects.