Quality, Environment, Safety – Total Integrated Management

To promote Industry Best Practice NZ Contractors Federation and QEST have developed a comprehensive selection of Industry Controlled Documents for more information about QEST and a copy of these documents email: info@QEST.co.nz

QEST - What is it?

QEST is a generic integrated management system that contractors mould to suit their business, and is made up of:

Section 1: An Integrated Management Plan consisting of a civil construction management code supported by code guidelines to which contractors are audited.

Section 2: A system manual consisting of an overview, general index, company information, policies and objectives, roles and responsibilities and ISO/NZS interpretation and exclusions, including cross references to ACC Workplace Safety Management Programme and ISO 9001 quality management audit requirements.

Section 3: A collation of System Requirements covering Request for Service, Provision of Service, Managing the Business, and Improving the Business.

Section 4: Comprises various system forms that make the management system work.

Section 5: A suite of industry control documents, including company employee induction information, environmental instructions and procedures, and safety instructions and procedures.

QEST Background

QEST is based on the Australian Civil Contractors’ Federation contractors integrated management system that has been amended to meet New Zealand requirements and WSMP secondary accreditation. The Australian system is designed to meet the requirements of AS/NZS4801 along with the Quality and Environmental Management standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 respectively. In its Australian form, QEST has the collective experience and integrity of eight years use in Australia and is approved by State and Federal governments.

QEST Audit

No system can fulfil legal requirements unless it is fully implemented and audited. QEST has a comprehensive audit tool which requires contractors to be audited each year. The audit tool covers quality to ISO9001, environment and safety to ACC’s secondary accreditation level and is based on the industry specific audit tool. QEST audits are completed by independent third party, JASANZ approved auditors.

QEST Development

QEST undergoes continual evaluation and is a living document continually being reviewed as to suitability and compliance. QEST is also a business management tool that allows a company to grow and prosper and provides a sound foundation to build the management systems that a company needs.

Future QEST Development

NZCF has established a stakeholders group to assist in guiding QEST’s further development and to recommend amendments as a result of QEST’s use in practice. The stakeholders group also monitor QEST accredited contractors to ensure they meet the benchmark established for safety performance. This will compare accident statistics using ACC data. Contractors having a poor safety record will meet with representatives from the stakeholders group and NZCF, who will seek a commitment to improvement with planned action agreed by the contractors.

Transit Approved - Quality Management System

In November 2006 Transit New Zealand approved QEST as a Quality Management System for High QA level roading contracts. Transit has resolved to:

1. Endorse the NZCF QEST as an acceptable quality management system for High QA level physical works contracts.
2. Allow contractors holding NZCF certification to QEST by a JAS-ANZ accredited auditor to tender for High QA level physical works contracts.
3. Require that successful tenderers provide and operate a contract quality plan that meets Transit Standard TQS1: 2005 Element 2 Clause 5; and
4. Perform contract management reviews of contractors that are operating under QEST.

Transit Approved – Health and Safety System

In October 2005 Transit New Zealand approved QEST as a health and safety system that meets Transit’s requirements to demonstrate industry and individual operative best practice.

Transit required all contractors seeking prequalification to be registered with an approved health and safety provider by November 2005 and be working toward achieving Transit’s health and safety requirements.
Transit requires contractors to meet the requirements of ACC secondary accreditation demonstrated by independent third part audits.
Mandatory health and safety training of all staff is required and contracting companies will be benchmarked to ensure continual improvement of health and safety within the industry.

By introducing QEST to the industry, NZCF has the objective of lifting the management systems of contractors from a level where contractors do not comply with any health and safety standard to compliance with recognised standard appropriate for the New Zealand construction industry. QEST by meeting its objectives increases health and safety compliance so that subcontractors meet the health and safety requirements of head contractors and clients. As QEST becomes widely used within the industry the costs to head contractors when reviewing subcontractors’ health and safety compliance will be reduced.