The Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) has today welcomed Government’s announcement to increase infrastructure spending on projects including highways.
Local Authorities should now focus on achieving value for money works for the tax paying public, the safety of road users and road workers, and employing only appropriately qualified contractors. All road marking contractors working on public roads should be National Highways Sector Scheme 7 (NHSS7) certified by a UKAS accredited body.
Stu McInroy, RSMA Chief Executive said “The RSMA welcomes Government’s commitment to increase spending on highways, however, to ensure the strategy is sustainable, Local Authorities must ensure all road marking works are completed by NHSS7 contractors certified by a UKAS accredited body.
“Road marking contractors who hold NHSS7 certification from a UKAS accredited body focus on quality, prioritise the health and safety of their workforce and road users, reduce costs for the client, maintain a properly trained and competent workforce and meet the industry benchmark for standards.
“It is anomalous that road marking contractors working on the Strategic Road Network and the majority of the TfL network must be NHSS7 accredited and thus able to demonstrate through audit the required standard of professionalism and safety, and yet no similar requirement exists across the Local Authority road network.
“If the Government is serious about “levelling up”, then this inconsistency must end and Local Authorities must contract only companies who are NHSS7 certified by a UKAS accredited body.”