The evolving cycle of the Building and Construction Authority

One of the main objectives of the Building and Construction Authority is to safeguard third parties’ interests and safety during construction works. Hence, one of the Authority’s arms is specifically to handle third parties’ complaints about various construction sites.

Through BCA’s compliance and enforcement team, which is familiar with the principles of construction, and which will be growing soon, building inspectors visit construction sites to review any possible infringements.

These officers are often asked to embody so many roles within the context of their duties. On any given day, they may function as problem solvers, mediators, communicators, and educators within their role as an inspector. 

Circa 80% of the complaints received by the Building and Construction Authority are related to housekeeping aspects of construction sites and equivalent carelessness. This refers to the practice of keeping a construction site clean and tidy. 

Taking the month of April as a realistic example, the Authority received over 200 complaints, with the most common related to dust emissions from construction works, construction material falling onto the third-party property, and untidiness in the vicinity of a construction site. 

The BCA emphasizes the importance of good site management with adequate planning regarding housekeeping as it will ensure safety to both the site’s working personnel and the neighbouring environment. Other complaints are related to working hours not permitted by law, including Sundays and Public Holidays. New hours during which excavation and demolition works can take place as from last November are between 7.30 am and 4 pm from Monday to Saturday.  

Furthermore, the Authority receives several complaints about construction sites not being compliant due to no clearance given by the Building and Construction Authority to commence works. 

It is to be noted that every application awarded for development by the Planning Authority requires the clearance of the BCA to start works. During this process, the BCA analyses the method statements of such developers to make sure they adhere to the established legislation. In such instances, the BCA may advise the applicant to amend the method statement, and hence the process may take longer.

The notion of quality application plays an important role in the timing of the evaluation and determination of the application to start work.  

Meanwhile, to enhance the safeguarding of the interests and safety of both third parties and construction workers, the Building and Construction Authority shall be collaborating closely with the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA). 

This is an important step for a more efficient approach to enforcement mainly in sharing the information under confidential cover and manner agreed upon by the two authorities. 

This working relationship that ensures the utmost collaboration in investigations carried out by the two parties in those cases where they both have an interest, thereby diminishing the possibility of incongruities in the outcome of said investigations. 

All the above boils down to the Building and Construction Authority’s vision and mission statement, that of ascertaining that the core aspects through the generation of up-to-date regulations implemented effectively and efficiently in a Controlled Environment.

This, while maximizing the Value Added and sustainability of building regulations by leveraging core competencies based on efficient Compliance practices and excellence in customer service.