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We are committed to maintaining a productive and most importantly, safe workplace. In managing large geographical areas of the strategic road network involving busy transportation pathways and working next to high speed traffic, we must ensure that the safety of the workforce and the public is always of utmost concern, and that our workforce all round awareness is always as…

Due to the diverse workforce on site we have requested the drugs and alcohol testing company bring saliva testing kits with them instead of just urine during Ramadan. This caters for those involved with Ramadan traditions where operatives may struggle to supply sufficient sample due to the reduced intake of liquids.

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…

Construction by its nature has many potential risks. One of the risks involves the workforce operating whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Either of these will impair their performance and can lead to them taking safety risks or putting others at risk. Our usual drug and alcohol policy applies to all persons engaged in the works, and some have…

The risk and impact of drugs to an individual can be a serious concern to their own health, as well as others. It is important to take the topic seriously and provide a thorough approach including both regulation and support, when considering the wellbeing and safety of the workforce. Below is an example of how one site introduced drug testing…

Caring for the wellbeing and safety of your employees is crucial in maintaining a happy, healthy workforce and industry image. The focus on health and safety is continuous and can always be enhanced on a construction site. However there are aspects of maintaining a healthy wellbeing that can’t always be noticeably seen and can easily go unnoticed, such as an addiction….

Our Area 12 STEM Ambassador Group arranged a ‘Bring your child to work day’ during the summer holidays to encourage more young people to consider Engineering as a career and provide greater awareness of our construction and engineering activities around the network. This allowed us to reach local communities, to share what we do and why we do what we…

Alcohol Awareness Week is an annual campaign organised by Alcohol Concern. The campaign aims to get people thinking about alcohol and how it impacts themselves, as well families, colleagues and the community as a whole. Any organisation is encouraged to take part from local authorities, emergency and healthcare services, schools, colleges and the workplace. Alcohol concern is providing free resources including…

Dry January is an annual campaign organised by Alcohol Concern that runs the full length of January. The campaign encourages adopting a completely alcohol free lifestyle for a total 31 days with the aim to raise awareness of alcohol consumption and healthy living. Those who have taken part in previous years have reported a noticeable change in health including: Weight loss Better…

The safety and wellbeing of a site’s workforce is a primary concern and must be properly monitored and managed. Amongst other common safety hazards, worker fatigue should not be something that is overlooked. “A state of perceived weariness that can result from prolonged working, heavy workload, insufficient rest and inadequate sleep.” – Office of Rail Regulation 2012 The Effects A construction…

Encouraging healthy living throughout the workforce is important. Providing information and help on preventing the use of alcohol and drugs, can make operatives feel supported and cared for. Alcohol and drug use should also be considered and discouraged. Especially as this can have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the workforce and even present a potential safety issue. Below…

Random drugs and alcohol testing is an effective way of ensuring that safety on site is of paramount importance. Attitudes towards the effects of drugs and alcohol on workers, should be fed down from senior managers and adopted by all. Drinking or taking drugs before working on site could effect reaction times, judgements and result in dangerous incidents or accidents on site….

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…