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World’s Leading Construction Companies Unite
to Promote “Building Responsibly” Initiative
Bechtel, the leading global engineering, pro-
curement, and construction firm announced
the formation of a global coalition aimed at
improving worker safety and productivity
standards for construction and engineering
projects as well as for their relevant supply
chains. Together with Amec Foster Wheeler,
CH2M, Fluor, Multiplex, and Vinci, Bechtel is
launching the Building Responsibly initiative
focused on advancing efforts of construction
and engineering firms to more effectively align
with international human rights frameworks,
promote a healthier environment for workers,
and further improve project delivery and quality
for customers.
“Working with industry is one of the best op-
portunities we have to progress worker welfare,
especially as supply chains and subcontractor
relationships are vast, complex, and intercon-
nected,” said Tam Nguyen, Bechtel’s Global
Head of Sustainability. “Through greater collab-
oration, member companies can better achieve
our common goal of safety, productivity, and
responsible engagement with our workers and
suppliers.”
Building Responsibly also enables compa-
nies like Bechtel to accelerate their current
efforts aimed at sustainability by sharing best
practices, developing industry standards and
tools, and engaging diverse stakeholders on all
aspects of promoting worker welfare.
With a specific focus on marshaling the private
sector’s role in sustainability efforts, the glob-
al non-profit organization Building for Social
Responsibility, (BSR) will facilitate the initiative
with support from Humanity United.
“Demonstrating the respect for human rights
in operations and supply chains will become
a minimum requirement to win work in the
future,” said BSR Managing Director Margaret
Jungk. “Companies in Building Responsibly will
be able to align their activities and benefit from
their collective knowledge and capacity on this
issue.”
Membership in Building Responsibly is open
for engineering and construction companies
that are committed to respecting the rights and
welfare of workers.
“Humanity United believes companies play
a vital role in protecting workers in their sup-
ply chains,” said Catherine Chen, Director
of Investments at Humanity United. “We are
pleased to support the formation of Building
Responsibly to harness the engineering and
construction sector’s ingenuity to promote the
welfare of workers.”
Bechtel, along with the other founding mem-
bers, participated in the first General Assembly
meeting on the 27th February in London.
Construction Leaders • May 2017
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