entries found
New App Launched to Support Construction Workers’ Mental Health
The Lighthouse Club Construction Industry Charity, who run the Construction Industry Helpline, launched a new app on the 7th December 2018 in collaboration with COINS (a construction software firm) and Building Mental Health (an online information portal about mental health, also developed by the charity). The new Construction Industry Helpline app will be a free, confidential service aimed at providing...
Ballot Bin Ashtray
At South Quay Plaza, we found that despite having two smoking areas within the site boundary, due to close proximity to coffee shops and supermarkets, a lot of our operatives were smoking outside the site perimeter. This does not create a positive first impression, which we are all very passionate about. In order to tackle this, we have ordered Ballot...
Smoking Policy
Implementing a smoking policy on site is important to ensure that operatives have a safe and healthy working environment. The smoking policy should provide non-smokers the right to work in air free of tobacco smoke, whilst also taking into account the needs of those who do smoke. For sites that do not have their own company policy in place, the...
Considerate Constructors Scheme ‘Expectations for Temporary Site Accommodation’ Guidance Note
As part of the scoring process, the Considerate Constructors Scheme issues guidance notes to our Monitors on key issues to advise them on best practices to look out for when visiting sites, companies and suppliers. The ‘Expectations for Temporary Site Accommodation’ note was developed by the Scheme’s Review Group through consultation with the Modular and Portable Buildings Association (MPBA) and with...
Considerate Constructors Scheme ‘Construction Dust and Air Quality’ Guidance Note
As part of the scoring process, the Considerate Constructors Scheme issues guidance notes to our Monitors on key issues to advise them on best practices to look out for when visiting sites, companies and suppliers. Following the launch of ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’, the Scheme redoubled its efforts to encourage registered sites, companies and suppliers to minimise air pollution from...
Counter terrorism advice – Run, Hide, Tell and CitizenAid
Project Griffin, the counter terrorism police, came to Multiplex, Royal Albert Dock over two days and delivered a talk on what to do in the event of a terrorist attack along with how to report any suspicious activity you may see at work or out in the general public. Materials were shared with the team, including the “Run Hide Tell”...
Guidance for Drone Use
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones in the construction industry is increasing, but contractors need to be aware of how to deploy them lawfully to reduce intrusion. Drones can be used in many ways on a construction site including conducting aerial surveys, monitoring the activities of staff or subcontractors on sites and to view the site’s progress....
Stress and resilience guidance
During periods of change and high demand, the Costain Skanska Joint Venture building Crossrail’s Paddington Station require their staff to be resilient and proactive about maintaining their wellbeing. The workplace has a duty of care to provide an environment that not only creates formal opportunities for wellbeing discussions, but actively encourages managers to discuss levels of stress and resilience with...
Child Protection Guidance for school visits
For those on site while young people are visiting, it is important to be aware of potentially difficult situations. By following the simple guidance outlined in this template document it should be possible to ensure that the site is a secure environment for young people as well as site staff. The template document includes guidance about how to appropriately act...
Mobile Smoking Area
The image of the site portrays the image of construction. On a large site such as Seymour Link road, with constantly changing working areas the main welfare areas are at either end of the job hence going for a cigarette break would take a significant amount of time out of the working day. Therefore, the need for secondary smoking areas was established and...
E-smoking guide for employers
Although the difference between smoking a cigarette and a e-cigarette, also known as ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery System), may be noticeably different, the understanding on what is acceptable at the workplace can be less obvious. Organisations need a clear policy on whether to allow people to ‘vape’ anywhere, nowhere or restricted areas, to avoid misunderstandings and legal action. The law...
Non-offensive clothing 
The visual representation of operatives is an example of the site and the industry’s image. It is important to maintain a professional and positive image whilst on site, in many cases this means both how a member of the workforce acts and appears. One site ensured this level was maintained through the following example: Natasha, a graduate manager, developed a...
E-cigarette smoking areas
Any attempts to provide support for worker welfare is important to promote a greater awareness of longterm health and wellbeing both on and off-site. Although adopting the e-smoking approach is not putting a full stop to smoking habits, it can offer a potential alternative to cigarettes. E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular as a way to reduce and eventually quit smoking altogether due to their lower...
Guidance to improve road safety awareness
Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Berkeley Group have joined together to create a Guidance document to ensure safe deliveries to and from construction sites. The guidance provides details on how to prevent accidents associated with deliveries and collections to and from site, and is supported by a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) approved training course. Road safety remains a big...
Pocket Ashtrays
Pocket ashtrays are mini-bin pouches to store cigarette butts and chewing gum. There is a no smoking area provided on site, but these pocket ashtrays are made available to the workforce to avoid littering outside site. The benefits of these ashtrays include improved health and safety and housekeeping on-site. It will also help to ensure a positive impression of site...
Providing Adequate Facilities for Smokers
Creating a positive impression of your site is important as you do not get a second chance to create a good first impression on passers-by. Providing adequate facilities for smokers and also offering help and encouragement on how to quit smoking, can make operatives feel supported and cared for. Sites have tackled the negative appearance associated with workforce smoking by implementing the following:...
Making sure operatives present a professional image when leaving site
It is important that your site and workforce presents a professional image of both your company and the industry as a whole. It is therefore essential that operatives’ appearance on and around site is appropriate, to project an image of professionalism. Many sites introduce initiatives to ensure that their workforce appears clean and well-presented both on and off site. Below...
Providing welfare, training and equal opportunities
The Buttsgrove Way site demonstrated good practice towards the workforce in a number of ways including providing high standards of welfare facilities, training opportunities and raising health and wellbeing awareness. Examples of how a supportive and caring working environment was provided include: As part of the induction process, the site manager explained the equal opportunity and diversity polices that were enforced,...
Preventing cigarette litter around site
The appearance of your site should be constantly maintained at a high standard. Constructors should always strive to provide an excellent first impression by maintaining a clean and tidy site, as this reinforces the considerate nature of the construction industry. Litter around site negatively impacts the appearance of your site to the local community. Below is an example of a simple method that...
Safety boot drawer
Welfare facilities should be provided, which will encourage workers to maintain a clean and tidy site. A clean site office is important, both internally, for our day to day jobs and also externally, for our clients, subcontractors, residents and local authorities, when they visit our site offices. Despite the boot wash displayed at the entrance, safety boots are often dirty...
Maintaining a good exterior by considering the appearance of smoking
The appearance of your site is vital to providing the community with a good first impression as well as demonstrating that you are a caring, considerate constructor. Site managers should take pride in both the external and internal appearance of their site. Measures should be implemented to establish and maintain an excellent appearance. Careful consideration also needs to be given to...
YellowJacket system
The YellowJacket health and safety online system is a tool developed by Mace and now owned by BRE, that can be operated from your desktop or on your tablet/phone, helping a construction site to manage quality, environmental, health and safety performance. This system enables a better management of health and safety performance on site by ensuring all your data is in one...
Issues around smoking
Healthy lifestyle advice is becoming more and more important on construction sites. This can include specialist advice and support regarding dietary issues, drugs or alcohol abuse and smoking. Sites could encourage workers to stop smoking and lead a healthier lifestyle. If workers do not want to quit smoking, a sheltered, secluded area can be created to ensure that smokers have a...
