In order to improve overall health, safety and welfare within the construction industry, a group of SA professionals is launching BuildSafe South Africa (BSA).

Founding members included Sasol Technology, Aveng Grinaker-LTA, Murray & Roberts and Fluor, BSA said in a statement.

"The non-profit organisation of BuildSafe South Africa advocates the free exchange and sharing of information between organisations working in the South African construction industry. It represents construction-related stakeholder organisations, who will publicly express their commitment and dedication to help improve the health, safety and welfare conditions of all workers through the free exchange of information."

The statement added that information-sharing sessions would ensure better awareness, from all personnel levels and play its part to achieve an "incident and injury-free work place" for all.

"This initiative was successfully implemented in the UAE and following that model leading representatives envisage that SA can follow suit in its desired outcomes and key objectives."

According to Mark Flower, Fluor MD, the BuildSafe Initiative is "aimed at influencing the construction industry's attitude and disposition towards health, safety and welfare for workers through improving overall awareness and understanding".

Sasol Technology MD, Flip De Wet said that "the construction industry is lagging behind the mining sector in its overall health and safety performance, being a part of this initiative is going to work towards closing that gap".

Nigel Harvey, Operations Executive at Murray & Roberts, said "M&R were proud to be a founding member of Build Safe Dubai so it was only natural to help get it launched here in SA".

"BuildSafe advocates the proven principle that investment in safety will deliver a positive return leading to an improvement on the bottom-line of overall performance," said Grahame McCaig, MD of Aveng Grinaker-LTA.

Foster Wheeler MD, Steve Scott, added that "the industry has to adopt an attitude of being open in recording incidents faced. In managing construction projects going forward, this will create awareness and ensure that accidents are prevented and minimised".

David Bass, BSA Administrator asked all those involved to "actively participate in the initiative designed to get information to the majority of the 55 000 construction contractors and associated stakeholders.

The launch of BSA will take place on January 19, 2012, at Emperor's Palace, Gauteng.