IOSH's Learning Legacy role

18 October 2011

IOSH is one of the organisations taking part in a new construction industry blueprint, aimed at nurturing the high standards set by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games building project.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) launched Learning Legacy: London 2012 yesterday (Monday 17 October), as a showcase for sustainable, safe and successful construction that will guide on best practice for the future. It follows news that the delivery of the Games’ construction project has been delivered on-time and on-budget, with a strong health and safety record.

The programme’s aim is to raise the bar of the UK building industry, using the knowledge gained and techniques used as a platform from which to develop and channel better ways of working. IOSH is one of the partners among contractors, professional institutes, government bodies and academic institutes that are collaborating to share the lessons learned from the success.

IOSH executive director of policy Dr Luise Vassie said: “One of the key principles at IOSH is to share learning from good health and safety, adopting the techniques that have achieved success, and using them as good practice solutions for developing ever safer and healthier ways of working. On that basis, the ODA’s Learning Legacy from the London 2012 construction project is important, because it adopts that same ethos.

“We are excited to be working with others in taking forward the benchmarks set here for sustainable, successful construction. And that knowledge gained can provide invaluable lessons for improving the industry’s health and safety in the future.”

Originally the ODA set targets well above industry yardsticks for the delivery of the Games and met the majority, while exceeding the expectations of some. Learning Legacy builds on this, and is the first time a project has been set up to capture intellectual capital on this scale from a UK construction project. What is more, it will act as a showcase of the country’s plc, as the Government looks to build on the positive effect the London 2012 Olympic Games is having on the economy.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: “The Learning Legacy framework is the embodiment of a new benchmark that has been created in delivering Europe’s largest construction project to the ultimate deadline and within budget. The scale and speed of the coordinated UK effort to build the venues and infrastructure is unprecedented, and the knowledge and lessons gained during construction will both benefit the industry and act as a catalyst for inward investment”.

Health and safety is one of ten legacy themes, which is designed to help businesses improve the way they work. Others include design and engineering, planning, procurement and project management. Learning Legacy will also detail how the ODA tackled issues such as creating a green landscape out of a former industrial site. Eventually, the website will become a library for companies to refer to.

Learning Legacy launched yesterday evening at the Institution of Civil Engineers in Westminster, with speeches from ODA chairman John Armitt and the Government’s Chief Construction Adviser, Paul Morrell.