Posted By Jay Levy
Hi,
Can anyone direct me to a place where I might find information about French construction regulations and their CDM equivalents?

I am H&S Manager for a firm of shopfitters in the UK and it has just transpired that we are fitting out shops in France for a major retailer - which we will be project managing from the UK, with no french persons currently involved and also no one has yet applied for planning permissions or F10's or any other preparation!

Prior to this, we have been UK based only. The project has all been designed and prepared in the UK and will be fitted in France using french workforce, so there will obviously be some translation of risk assessments and method statements and H&S policies required as a minimum.

Standards of H&S will be managed and maintained as we would for a project in the UK based on UK legislation, but I am unsure if French H&S standards are a higher or b) completely different and c) what paper works are required before commencement?

Can anyone suggest a constructive action I might take to find a source of information in English about French H&S requirements, obviously once I have finished yelling at my project managers?
Much Appreciated
Jay

Posted By Merv Newman
Jay,

French CDM is similar to, but different from that in the UK. Sorry.

Code de Travail Chapitre V, Articles R 235-1 to 235-4

About 10 pages in my copy.

www.oppbtp.fr

Office Professionel de Prévention en Bâtiment et Travaux Publique

Merv

Posted By Jay Levy
Thanks for info Merv.

As for what are the contracts managers doing? Currently hiding from me so I can't tear any more strips off them..............although in fairness, management systems and communication are lacking here....... I think I am the first person to hold them accountable and expect things from them....so not all their fault as they have got away with a haphazard way of achieving their goals for a while......there is a need for instigation of basic management techniques and communication here and some basic understanding of processes and procedures needs to be put in place..everyone works to their own song sheet........ it's a young company........what a challenge eh???? I should have stuck to being a surf bum!

Posted By Jay Levy
Tim,
I think you may have misinterpreted my humour.

I also think "slagging off" ones company is entirely unprofessional and was merely being honest about the areas of improvement for my company - like I said - a challenge for us all.

I mentioned it only in response to a valid query someone made about my Contract Managers and I thought it fair to point out that the Contract Managers were not entirely to blame for the problem with which I had requested advice.

Your comments are duly noted however and I shall stick to the members forum in future.
Jay

Posted By TBC
I'd be surprised if you can get any in English. The French don't tend to do 'other' languages in any of their paperwork. Merv would know better - over to you Merv - have you got a translated version?

Posted By Seejem
Jay,

Merv is right about OPPBTP (Occupational Risk Prevention Organisation for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries) Web Site
http://www.oppbtp.fr/

But if you go to The INRS, this is the National Research and Safety Institute for occupational accidents prevention in France. You will get publications and information on health and safety ...it is also available in English, and gives you plenty of info, and other links to OPPBTP.

But if I can offer one bit of advice from someone who has learnt the hard way. I worked on a project for over 2 years with a large group of French Engineers, and no matter how much we trained them, and briefed them on UK H & S legislation, it all came down to culture, and what they are used to, so please do not under estimate this, as it works both ways. When in rome, do as the romans do.....

I can put you in touch with a H & S manager from a major multi national French organisation, if you wish.

Seejem