Universities and colleges are significant construction clients investing millions of pounds each year on the construction of infrastructure and buildings and have a responsibility for the safety of the staff and students on their campuses and the communities they live and work in.
We know that universities and colleges face many unique challenges in their care for vulnerable road users: high volumes of footfall in small tight areas, language/cultural differences and of course extremely high volumes of pedestrians and cyclists.
At the same time, most universities and colleges encourage their communities to embrace sustainable means of transport, such as walking or cycling.
A consistent and collaborative approach to construction logistics planning is vital if construction activity is to be conducted safely with minimal risk to vulnerable road users and reduced impact on local communities. An improved approach to construction logistics will also provide other environmental and societal benefits such as improved air quality though lower emissions and reduced congestion.
As major procurers of goods and services for construction, all clients are in a powerful position to influence the behaviour of the whole supply chain.
Clients can manage this risk and benefit the communities they operate in by joining CLOCS and specifying compliance with the CLOCS Standard and the development of a Construction Logistics Plan as contractual requirements from the outset.
Adopting and implementing CLOCS will help:
- create the right commercial environment to improve safety right through the supply chain
- procure for compliance with a consistent construction logistics standard that drives collaboration
- reduce the impact of vehicles servicing your site
- reduce risk of harm and inconvenience to the community
- safeguard your investment and reputation
Being part of CLOCS gives the university a degree of assurance that our supply chain are considering the best practice in how to manage their logistics chain, forcing them to consider safer routes, delivery times and vehicle selection. Planning all aspects in a way that either eliminates, or greatly reduces, truck movements in busy areas used by our students who are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible.
Adopting and implementing CLOCS costs us little but allows us to champion best practice across our supply chain and hopefully keep our community of staff, students, contractors and visitors safe at all times.
— Mark Evans, University of Warwick
Becoming a CLOCS Champion provides:
- a construction road safety standard already adopted by many of the UK’s largest clients, developers, contractors and fleet operators
- access to vital resources and support including guides, templates, case studies and training
- being part of an ever-growing community of like-minded organisations with access to member meetings, working groups and online safety forums
Adopting and implementing CLOCS
The CLOCS Standard defines the primary requirements placed upon the key stakeholders associated with a construction project and places responsibilities and duties on the regulator/planning authority, the client, the principal contractor controlling the construction site and the supply chain including the operators of any road-going vehicles servicing that project.
The CLOCS Standard outlines specific requirement for a client as follows:
- specify in tender and contract documents for all stakeholders to comply to the CLOCS Standard
- ensure the project team develops and implements a suitable and sufficient Construction Logistics Plan
- ensure effective monitoring of compliance to the CLOCS Standard
- obtain and monitor the contractor’s action plan to address all identified issues and non-compliances
Useful resources
Anyone new to CLOCS should take a look at the getting started page for guidance on how best to adopt and implement CLOCS within their operations.
A number of resources are available on the Specifying CLOCS page to support clients and developers in their adoption and implementation of the CLOCS Standard including a guide on embedding CLOCS in procurement, example contract clauses and letters, and a guide on managing supply chain complaince.
There is also a Good practice for designers guide, developed by CLOCS Strategic Partner, the Institution on Civil Engineers.
Additionally, CLOCS Champion Clients are invited to join a CLOCS Client Working Group made up of peers and colleagues from across the client community to develop a closer relationship with CLOCS, helping drive strategy and standards, and access knowledge, insights and expertise from others in the same role facing the same challenges.
Joining the CLOCS community
If you are ready to join the CLOCS community, your first step is to register to become a CLOCS Champion.
All Champions are party to a Memorandum of Understanding which should be reviewed to understand the commitment and engagement expected.
