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Guidance developed by the National Business Crime Centre and the Metropolitan Police in partnership with the Considerate Constructors Scheme has recently been created with the aim to give advice on how best to secure the construction site in order to offer the benefits of a low crime development from the moment the hoarding goes up until the development is handed…

One of the best ways to get children involved with the construction industry is through a school visit from Ivor and Honor Goodsite. These mascots are designed to engage with a younger audience and have previously been used to conduct presentations about site safety and our impact on the environment. A new presentation has now been developed that will teach…

SKA rating is the environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit outs, such as the fitting out of office or retail space. SKA is led and owned by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Contractors can use SKA to commission the assessment and certification of a project from a RICS-accredited assessor. The SKA assessment assesses the fit…

The Department for Transport has published a code of practice aimed at ensuring any works being carried out on or near a road is being carried out safely, so that no other road users are put at risk by the works. This code of practice aims to help with the safe carrying out of signing, lighting or guarding of street/…

From October 2013, under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic and Directors’ Reports) Regulations 2013, quoted companies are required to report their greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. A quoted company is a company whose shares are traded on a stock exchange, such as the London Stock Exchange. Other non-quoted companies can also voluntarily report their annual greenhouse gas emissions….

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published some guidance about construction dust, as this can be a serious occupational health hazard. Regularly breathing in any type of dust can cause serious lung diseases including cancer, and over 500 construction workers are believed to die every year as a result of exposure to silica dust. Needless to say, creating excessive…

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…

The waste carrier registration scheme was introduced in England and Wales as part of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizures of Vehicles) Regulations 1991, with the aim of reducing fly-tipping. The 1989 Act requires anyone who transports waste for profit to be registered with the Environment Agency, and the 1991…

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced some examples of risk assessments which show the sort of approach they expect small businesses to take with regards to risk management. The examples show how other small and medium sized companies have approached risk assessment, and they can be adapted to suit the needs of your business. To find out more,…

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, or CDM, came into force on the 6th April 2015, replacing the 2007 CDM legislation. The current CDM legislation aims to improve health and safety within the construction industry by doing the following: Helping you to sensibly plan works so risks are managed throughout the project. Ensuring you have the right people for…

If you run a small construction business or are a sole trader, it is imperative that health and safety is taken as seriously on site as it is on larger construction sites. If you are working on site alone, or with very few other workers around you, there may be far fewer people to assist should a health and safety…

The CITB has updated their CDM Wizard mobile app. This app, along with CITB’s other CDM resources, is aimed at helping contractors understand The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and how to plan their construction phases in line with this legislation. To look at CITB’s CDM resources or download the app, please click on the link below.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme has produced an operatives’ induction checklist for contractors to use to help ensure site staff are fully inducted to the site. Site staff should be made aware of any site rules, health, safety and environmental issues, as well as where welfare facilities are located. The induction also provides a good opportunity to check their right to…

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has developed a series of webinars that count towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD). These webinars are found on the CIOB Academy website, which is a free learning tool that intends to help individuals realise their potential within the construction industry. t also aims to nurture the correct practical skills and attitudes required for an…

Alison was set up in 2007 in Galway (Republic of Ireland), and with over 12 million learners, is currently one of the world’s largest free online learning platforms for education and skills training. Inspired by Article 26 of 1946 Declaration of Human Rights stating that education should be free, the main aim of the website is to make it possible for…