Willmott Dixon has announced that from 1 July 2009, all contractors responsible for the main scaffolding packages on its 150 plus projects must either be members of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), or in the process of applying to become members.

The move is designed to ensure that its scaffolding contractors have a common level of best practice and approach to health and safety that membership of the NASC brings.

Willmott Dixon Group Head of Health and Safety Jim Higham said: "Being a NASC member is the best way to demonstrate all round competency that includes compliance with all relevant CDM regulations. It's a badge of quality that we expect from companies whose activity working at height to erect and dismantle scaffolding poses a higher than usual safety risk on a construction site."

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Willmott Dixon has written to all its scaffolding contractors about the new rule, which will affect about 20 per cent of companies that carry out main scaffolding packages on its projects. It has given six months notice for non-members to ensure they have enough time to apply and join the NASC.

NASC President Bob Whincap said: "This represents a significant signal to the whole of the construction industry, Willmott Dixon's decision to adopt an NASC only policy is a 'green light' for the rest of the industry. Those main contractors who have yet to take this step should now follow Willmott Dixon and raise the whole of the UK's scaffolding work to a clear and undisputed regulated standard."

(CD/JM)