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Tinnitus Tailor App
At a Project Scheme Champion’s meeting, one subcontractor advised on their issues with tinnitus and how they have managed the condition by using a mobile phone app. The Tinnitis Tailor app provides background sound therapy, which greatly reduces the effects of tinnitus. As tinnitus is a common condition (affecting around 30% of people) and brought about by changes in noise...
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...
Cold Weather Shelter Outreach Programme
The 80 Charlotte Street Project Team have collaborated with a new community group. The American International Church located on the boundary of the project on Tottenham Court Road hosted the Wednesday evening shelter for the C4WS’s cold weather shelter. As part of this commitment, one night per week the church hosts up to 20 guests overnight who are currently homeless...
Homeless Employment
Having witnessed high levels of rough sleeping around Leeds, we wanted to help make a difference. We targeted two homeless people to employ on site and develop their skills. To start with we found this difficult, however we had a break through with a local organisation to Leeds called ‘Engage’. They help people who are homeless or at risk of...
Zero Tolerance for Bad Site Etiquette
At Wooldridge Demolition, we are always looking at ways to improve the overall image of the industry. One major area we wanted to address was the etiquette of operatives on site, in relation to the public as well as each other. We have enrolled a ‘Zero Tolerance for Bad Site Etiquette’ campaign which involves every operative on site to sign...
Battery Powered Cut-Off Saw
We are currently using battery powered cut-off saws, rather than petrol cut-off saws. The benefit to the site is that the saw can be used indoors as well as outdoors, due to the lack of emissions. There is no need to store petrol onsite, and the decibels rating is slightly lower than a petrol saw. It is also very lightweight...
First Impressions: ensuring clear site access
CMDP, the framework contractor for Southern Water, are in their second year of a project for pesticide removal on a clean water site. An initial and continuing challenge is to make those affected by the works and the users of the site aware of the site location and to enable access and make the area a safe place to drive...
Diversity Calendar – Get closer to your community
Our company has always been on a look out for ideas on how to improve our industry image. One such an idea was to recognise, respect and celebrate the diversity of the area we work in. The diversity might be a religion, nationality or culture. One way we recognise diversity might be to decorate our hoardings in line with local...
Making Adjustments for Elderly Residents
Considerate constructors understand their community and make adjustments to suit particular needs while the works are carried out. See the examples below for how one site addressed this: As the majority of tenants in the area of the works are elderly and infirm, the site team identified sight impairment as a potential problem. The team developed an aid to assist...
Road Noise Awareness
Ciorba Construction is improving the image of construction by showing respect to all around us, not just on site. Driving in Central London can be hectic and stressful. With this in mind, we are asking our vehicle drivers to keep radio volumes at a minimum. In residential areas, while in parking mode (i.e. loading/unloading) they are being asked to: Turn...
Operative feedback form
Construction companies which specialise in providing labour must ensure that their workers are considerate and respect the community. See the examples below for how one company addressed this: At the end of the shift, the main contractor is required to fill in a site-specific feedback questionnaire. The questionnaire allows the contractor to provide feedback to operatives before they leave the...
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....
Supporting Visually Impaired Visitors
Wates Construction support visually impaired visitors by using the following items on our site. Enhanced bright tape which is used on all steps, doorways, kitchen hobs, edges Bumpons are used on light switches, microwave, kettle to help people find buttons and used as an indicator to operate items Liquid indicator – this is in all our kitchens on sites for...
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...
Reducing the disruption of concrete pours
Many construction practices generate a considerable amount of disruption in various forms such as noise, obstruction, dust and light pollution. Although there can always be techniques to reduce these impacts, sometimes there simply cannot be a complete solution to achieve zero disruption. Concrete pouring can be a disruptive practice and is a common source of complaint for neighbours. In response...
Hydraulic bursting
Minimising sound pollution reduces local disruption. Hydraulic bursting is a controlled demolition technique comprised of diamond drilling a series of holes in predetermined positions. A hydraulic burster is then used to force the concrete to crack, enabling removal. The burster heads are inserted into the pre-drilled hole and as the lateral pressure from the motor through to the burster heads...
Managing Permitted Working Hours
To help avoid nuisance and complaints, and also to ensure work is carried out within permitted hours, Mace have developed a noticeboard to remind site workers of when work is allowed to be carried out. This can be completed with relevant details to make it project specific. It includes CCS Partner branding to identify these requirements with our obligations as...
Site Traffic Lights
Site traffic lights have been a valuable way to stress the importance of respecting the community. These are discussed in the site induction via the above poster and have a great visual impact. Maintaining a good awareness and knowledge of traffic alerts also improves safety on and off-site for pedestrians and road users.
Woodhead Living has truly local feel in Bolsover
Work is moving at a pace on the first site in the B@Home programme. Seven energy efficient family homes are being built on a former garage site on Rogers Avenue in Creswell – the first of an anticipated 150 new council homes Bolsover District Council is aiming to build in partnership with Woodhead Living. The programme of works, launched in...
Goodwill gestures to dog walkers
It is always important to consider the impact that your site will have on neighbours and the public. Showing courtesy and respect to the local community will help to build good relations and leave behind a positive impression of the industry. Below is an example of how the site counteracted the closure of a dog walking area: For work to...
Combi card – park and ride travel to minimise disruption
Reasonable efforts should be made to minimise the impact of deliveries and parking on the local roads. Construction sites bring numerous additional cars and site vehicles to the local areas and parking is often a cause of complaint from neighbours or local businesses. BAM NHC considered the inevitable impact of parking around site and looked for ways to reduce an additional influx...
Installation of an accessible ramp at local primary school
During the sunny Easter break, a team from the Paddington New Yard project set to work to install a much needed accessible ramp at St Mary Magdalene’s primary school in Paddington. The school had been using a temporary ramp, constructed by a scaffolding company some months ago, to allow prams and wheelchairs to access the upper level playground to a...
Helpful Hints for the Code of Considerate Practice – Community
Being registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) means we need to demonstrate our commitment to the Code. The CCS Code of Considerate Practice is effectively communicated to our workforce through a sheet of helpful hints covering all five sections of the code. Through reading this document our workforce understands the importance of the Code and how it should be applied. Here are...
Lending a helping hand to elderly residents
Efforts to positively contribute to the local community should be made. This helps to build good relations with the local community, and promotes the considerate nature of the industry. A good rapport with the local community will also help to mitigate any annoyances or frustrations that may occur throughout the duration of the project. Below is an example of how...
Protecting vulnerable members of the public & workforce
Operatives should be briefed on issues sensitive to neighbours and the workforce. Sites and companies should help operatives to understand how best to conduct themselves around community members with particular requirements or special needs, such as young children, elderly residents or people with disabilities. Many sites have developed specific policies, to clearly advise operatives of how they are expected to behave when...
Considering the needs of your neighbours
Careful consideration should be given to the impact your work will have on the surrounding community. It is important to familiarise yourself with the local community and if any specific considerations or special requirements need to be accounted for. Below is an example of how sites can adapt their practices to accommodate their neighbours: The contractor identified that the Royal National...
The Considerate Constructors Scheme ‘Affected by Works’ Film
A number of films have been produced to explain the different aspects of the scheme. The ‘Affected by Works’ film is aimed at members of the public who may be affected by construction activity. This film explains what the public affected by works should expect from a registered site and how the Scheme can help mediate any complaints that may occur. To...
Parking Notice
Parking is a frequent and major source of public complaint during construction work. Sites can minimise inconvenience to the neighbourhood by using pre-start information, regular project updates and parking away from site where possible. For site vehicles that may potentially cause disruption as an obstruction, the Considerate Constructors Scheme has developed a parking notice template. This can be used to inform...
Showing Sensitivity to the Local Community
Efforts should be made to understand and identify neighbours with special needs or requirements, who may need additional, careful consideration from the site. This will help to identify potential issues before they occur and show sensitivity to local residents. Examples of how sites and large operations, which are situated within a densely populated area, have shown consideration to the community include: Assisted...
Steps to improving community relations – Parking 
Parking is one of the most common complaints from the public, linked to construction activities. Issues surrounding parking can cause friction and difficult relations with the local community, which could also potentially effect the completion of a project. Examples of how this could be avoided include: Developers were asked to contain the majority of parking on site, through encouraging van share, promoting public...
