entries found
Visual Quick Hitch Indicator
Quick hitch systems generally have an automated alarm to identify when a bucket is in place. However, this site are trialling a system which uses LED lights on the boom to provide a visual indication of when a bucket is hitched. Together both the audible and visual indicators provide further assurance that the bucket is safely connected to the machine.
Safety System for Crane Drivers
The site team have installed an innovative safety feature onto their Wolff Luffing Jib Tower Crane. It has been fitted with the latest ‘Articrane i-Raptor Davit Crane Rescue System’ with a body stretcher on the high level driver’s platform. In the event of an emergency, such as a heart attack, this feature will get a crane driver back to ground....
LED Stop & Go Boards
The site have incorporated LED illuminated manual stop and go boards. These provide many benefits starting with greatly improved visibility and hence safety for operatives. The ability to respond quickly and efficiently to reported problems, particularly at night when the system is combined with halo-light fitted hardhats, increases road safety for all. This is an improvement to a long standing...
RSA Shuttle and Roll Over Simulator
The RSA (Road Safety Authority) shuttle is an interactive educational unit, which was brought to site to demonstrate to the workforce fatal driving behaviours such as driver distraction, use of mobile phones, passenger behaviour, fatigue and speed. Its main objective is to provide targeted audiences with the chance to interact with various road safety campaigns and to spread the message...
Translator Vests and Stickers
In the construction industry, clear and concise communication is key to ensure that a project is delivered on time and to the client’s expectations. Furthermore, as information regarding a project is regularly updated and comes from many different sources, the necessity for accurate communication is all the more important. Accurate communication must flow between all members of the project team,...
Learning a language with Duolingo
At South Quay Plaza (SQP), we value the diversity of our workforce and inclusivity is important to us, therefore a number of Berkeley Managers have embarked on a mission to learn the basics of a language which is common on site using Duolingo. Even simple phrases such as ‘hello’, ‘good morning’ and ‘how are you’ have made a positive impact...
Flexible Crane Exclusion Zones
The standard anti-collision system allows for exclusion zones to be set up by a controller at the base of the crane. These zones are set as ‘permanent’ unless changed by the supplier (SMIE) technician, with the operator only being able to turn the zone off to enable engaging free-slew when the crane is not operating. The issue with this standard...
Multi-Lingual Training
The Kier A13 Road Widening Project has recently started offering operative training modules in Hindi and Punjabi, alongside the standard English language option. The initiative has been developed in conjunction with labour agency Fortel and has enabled the project to ensure that safety critical messages are communicated with its diverse workforce in an appropriate way, ensuring best understanding of key...
All in One Logistics Station
Before accessing the site, the workforce can view the topics mentioned in the morning brief, including: Delivery times Exclusion zone times Today’s hazards Other works in the area The weatherproof notice board will also hold a copy of the latest revised risk assessment and method statements, QR Codes for the relevant rams and HAVS information, a site drawing which includes...
IPAF Entry Locked Cherry Pickers
The steelwork erector’s cherry pickers were delivered to site with access control systems fitted. This means only someone with an IPAF+ card can start and use the machine. This is done by scanning the IPAF card over the reader, which then recognises the suitably trained operative and allows the MEWP to start up. This can be over-ridden using a 4...
Emergency Grab and Go QR Code
The Grab & Go Pack has been created by the project’s Environmental Coordinator to help with locating the nearest hospital to unfamiliar workers and visitors on site. It’s common for a project to induct personal from different cities and towns. Since the working location can be unfamiliar to new faces, knowing where the nearest hospital is can prove quite the...
Traffic Marshal Gloves
The site are running a trial on a new set of gloves designed specifically for traffic marshals. There is a lot of vehicle movement on the project and besides competency and all the other control measures in place, the site wanted something extra that could make a difference. The chosen glove is rated at cut level 5. This provides the protection...
Early engagement with local access and usability groups
The project team built a mock-up of the proposed cycle path and pavement surfacing before inviting local access and usability groups to provide feedback. The Dementia Group provided positive feedback about the ‘sparkle effect’ (from the addition of crushed glass) of the cycle path resin which could look like water to a dementia sufferer, preventing them walking into it. We...
Aphex Planning, Collaboration and Monitoring
Aphex is not just a planning tool, it enables the teams to truly collaborate and see the larger picture from the Package Managers to the Supervisors on site. The team at Battersea have been utilising the system to allow the multi-discipline teams to co-ordinate their works during the fit-out phase and enable Supervisors to have a visual tool to co-ordinate...
GPS Display on Excavators
The large excavators on MPact-Thales are able to use GPS to maintain line and level control. Alongside the excavation model, MPact-Thales have developed a method for importing the utilities AutoCAD model into the excavator’s GPS display enabling operators to have a clear visualisation of the services within the areas they are working. These serve as a constant reminder of the...
Improving Customer Experience and Reducing Delay
Taylor Woodrow are currently constructing a new motorway interchange on the M20 near Ashford, Kent for our client, Highways England. Taylor Woodrow and Highways England are continually striving to deliver a better service to their customers, and one of our initiatives is to reduce delays through Highways England roadworks. Following extensive monitoring and data collection by Taylor Woodrow around J10...
Speaking posters to translate safety messages 
We recognise the importance of effective communication for maintaining safety and order on site. A large percentage of our workforce do not speak or read English as their first language, therefore much of our critical safety and wellbeing information is translated into the appropriate languages and displayed as posters in the appropriate working areas. However, we appreciate that, with so...
Community Engagement
Shadwell ward, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is located within a stone’s throw of the Rotherhithe Tunnel under the River Thames, linking Limehouse and Bekesbourne Street in east London to Southwark in south London. The demographic of Shadwell ward is of interest and has influenced the project’s community engagement. With a higher than average population density in Shadwell...
Smart TV
We have begun to use a Samsung Flip TV at the 100 Embankment site to assist with coordination and meetings that take place. This TV aids us as it allows multiple users to collaborate and use the TV at one time by drawing on it or highlighting specific areas. When the meeting is finished, the work can be exported directly...
‘Talk to Us’ at Broadway 
On The Broadway project, the trained Mental Health First Aiders wanted to make it possible for themselves to be available for anyone to come and talk to via a general chit-chat. The talks help give faces to names regarding who the Mental Health First Aiders are, and also enables the Mental Health First Aiders to signpost anyone who requires support....
Free Mobile Plant Awareness Workshop
Following a discussion with a mobile plant operator, it was highlighted that there was a clear issue with internal trade operatives with regards to mobile plant awareness. There was a lack of understanding with regards to blind spots, hand gestures etc. We already carry out talks to children and cyclists regarding HGV awareness, and it was decided that additional training...
Safety Behaviour Discussions Board
The site has introduced a visual graphic display to document our Safety Behavioural Discussions (SBD), which is part of our Challenging Beliefs, Affecting Behaviours (CBAB) toolkit. An SBD is an engagement between Site Management and Operatives to highlight both positive and negative actions on site. We use direct discussion with operatives to try and change behaviour rather than simply policing...
HSE Noise at Work
Noise associated with construction work is a common cause for complaints from the general public. However, it can also cause the workforce hearing damage if it is not adequately controlled, or if sufficient protection is not provided. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published some guidance relating to noise at work. This guidance looks at the problems that noisy working...
“Words Wednesday”
We teach English to our workers every week. We hold five English classes per week, two at an advanced level and three at a standard level. We thought if our employees are trying to learn our language, why don’t we also try to learn theirs? We trialled “Words Wednesday” in our Head Office, and the feedback from our employees was...
Lightfoot System
The Lightfoot System has been fitted to all company vehicles. Lightfoot is a computer system with a traffic light display system which is placed on the dashboard, and encourages drivers to save fuel, drive efficiently and safely, provides feedback to management and rewards the best performing drivers with discounts to various stores and services. To find out more, click on...
Cycle Safety Day for University Students
Education of cyclists about their interaction with delivery lorries was taken to the next level at the cycle safety day which this site ran for the benefit of University students. Using the technology that Google use to capture information to create street view, a recording was made of a delivery vehicle’s journey from the M40 through Oxford city centre to...
Site Turntable
What is it? 18m industrial turntable capable of handling 44-ton loads. It is the first of its kind to be used on a construction project. This is the first free standing construction turntable in the UK. The turntable allows 10 articulated vehicle movements per hour. A built-in handrail and walkway around the perimeter allows safe operation and access. Why we...
A Silver Lining
We have designed this poster to help anyone – staff, subcontractors, visitors – who feels low and requires that helping hand. No-one should feel alone and without help so we created this poster to give people a “Silver Lining” to the dark clouds that can gather above us at any time in life. We have also included Persian translation for...
Dash Cams
Moffat Electrical Projects took a business decision to install front and rear fitted dash cam tracking systems to our vehicles. The Samsara system helps us identify who is driving the vehicle with face recognition. If harsh breaking, excessive cornering, excessive speeding etc. takes place the system records it as an incident, which is then viewed by our system administrator. The...
Portable Hearing Loop
Consideration for those with a hearing impediment has received appropriate action, with a portable hearing loop now available within the project office reception area. The hearing loop can be moved to whichever location is required, including onto site and will be transferred to another site upon completion.
