by Clair Mooney | 16 Aug, 2021 | Health and Safety
The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum of which FIS is a key member, has issued another in its series of engaging advice videos, reminding workers how to keep themselves and others safe as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
The 90-second animation is the latest in a string of easy-to-follow Forum films designed to help construction workers protect themselves and their colleagues, customers and families after Scotland moved out of Level 0 last week.
It follows the Forum’s warning last month that the sector is “not out of the woods yet” and that each worker has a vitally important role to play in continuing to maintain good hygiene.
Among the practical advice, the animation reminds construction professionals to make sure they’re vaccinated, register with Test and Protect, take regular lateral flow tests and familiarise themselves with the rules around self-isolation.
While on-site, it also reminds them to carry out thorough risk assessments, keep work spaces ventilated, wash hands, tools and surfaces regularly, continue to observe physical distancing and wear appropriate face coverings where required.
Rebecca Crosland, Chair of the Forum’s Health and Safety group, and Head of Health & Safety at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), said:
“With the recent relaxation of COVID-19 rules, we are now entering a new phase where it is still vitally important to be careful both in our professional and personal lives.
“This video is designed to remind construction professionals that it’s vital not to forget the lessons learned so far, and of the practical steps they should all keep taking to protect themselves and their customers, colleagues and loved ones.
“Make no mistake – COVID-19 is still a very real threat and we can’t afford to relax yet. However, hopefully this will serve as a practical reminder to familiarise themselves with the latest government advice and continue carrying out the safe working practices that have been adopted over the past 18 months.”
The new guidance follows a range of other informative Forum videos that have helped to steer the sector through the pandemic, including advice on face coverings, guidance on travel and information for those carrying out domestic work.
The video was developed by Iain Mason, Chair of the Forum’s Communications sub-group and Director of Membership & Communication at SELECT, another leading member of the Forum, he said:
“Since the CICV Forum began in March 2020, our animations have proved to be highly effective in delivering vial health and safety messaging, and we hope this new video will continue to get more important advice across to construction professional everywhere.
“It’s been heartening to see how people across the industry have pulled together to get us through the past 18 months, and as we enter this new phases we must ensure that we all continue with this level of cooperation and collaboration.
“This latest animation continues the Forum’s key message that we are all #InThis Together and the importance of workers taking personal responsibility to protect themselves, their colleagues and the wider community.”
The CICV Forum is made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies. Since its inception, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and speaking with government ministers.
Last month it issued a secure site risk assessment template and close working checklist to help construction professionals plan for projects, with both available to download for free from the Forum website.
- Watch the new video here.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Aug, 2021 | Health and Safety
The HSE formal consultation exercise on amendments to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER) will close on Sunday 15 August.
The aim of the consultation is to understand the impact on stakeholders and businesses of extending the scope of employers’ duties under the PPE Regulations to workers and not just employees.
The consultation can be accessed here.
Background information
HSE is currently consulting on plans to extend the requirement of employers under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER) to include the provision of relevant PPE to all workers, not just employees. This consultation is launching on Monday 19 July 2021 and running for 4 weeks and can be accessed via the HSE Consultation Hub from this date.
The aim of the consultation is to understand the impact on stakeholders and businesses of extending the scope of the employers’ duties under the PPER to workers and not only employees.
Why is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) making changes to the regulations?
In November 2020, a judgment was handed down in a High Court case brought by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) against the Secretaries of State for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Work and Pension (DWP), which decided that the government had failed to transpose elements of the EU’s Framework Directive (which sets out the minimum standards for health and safety through a series of general principles) and the EU’s Personal Protective Equipment Directive (which sets out the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of personal protective equipment in the workplace for workers) into UK law.
The UK implemented the PPE Directive through the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (“PPER”) which places duties on employers to their ‘employees’ in regard to PPE. The High Court found that the PPE Directive required these duties to be extended to ‘limb (b) workers’ and not only ‘employees’. Therefore, HSE is making amendments to the PPER in order to align with the court’s judgment.
“Limb (b) workers” are workers who do not work under an employment contract but work under any other contract whereby they undertake to personally perform work or services for the other party to the contract.
What does this mean?
Employers will have a duty to provide all workers with the same health and safety protections in respect of PPE as they do currently for employees.
Options on how to achieve the extension of the provisions to workers in the legislation will not be presented during the consultation as the key legislative changes are being made to align with the court decision.
FIS is gathering information from our membership on the impact of these changes via this survey here.
As part of the process we are asking your views and trying to understand what the cost implication may be on your business. Please submit your response by Friday 6 August so we can consolidate the information from our community and send it across to the HSE.
by Clair Mooney | 20 Jul, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Health and Safety
A family – a woman and two children – were taken to hospital after panels from the ceiling fell on to them whilst in the supermarket in Ashton under Lyne on Thursday 15 July 2021.
It has not yet been confirmed what caused the collapse, but Asda said they are working with authorities while investigations are underway.
Shoppers were evacuated and an eye-witness said: “The aluminium panels landed on the baby in the seat on the trolley. The baby boy was around 4 weeks old”.
In a statement, an Asda spokesperson said: “A small section of the ceiling in our Ashton under Lyne store collapsed yesterday evening.
“Following the incident, a family was taken to hospital as a precaution, and we are pleased to hear they are all ok.
“The store reopened as normal this morning (Friday 16 July) and we are continuing to work with the relevant authorities on this matter.”
FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia said:
“Thankfully we see relatively few instances like this now as guidance and working practice has evolved.
There can be many reasons for a failure, commonly the fixing to the structure, but collapse can also be linked to moisture, incorrect access and replacement of panels above the ceiling during maintenance and ancillary works or simply using the ceiling to suspend additional weight that it was not designed to take.
It is vital that, when working in, on or around a suspended ceiling that building owners refer to the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Manual and ensure that work is carried out by competent individuals and that they adhere to manufacturers guidance when to comes to maintaining the integrity and inspecting the ceiling.
FIS provides a range of guidance for specifiers and contractors to support safety in the sector, this is all backed by expert helplines that we encourage clients, contractors and specifiers to utilise. As with any instance of this nature we remain on hand to interrogate the particulars of this case and ensure that the sector continues to learn and that all future accidents are avoided.”
Image source: Mancheser Evening News
by Clair Mooney | 2 Jun, 2021 | Health and Safety
HSE has published a revised version of HSG248 Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide (second edition – May 2021).
As guidance for analysts involved in asbestos work, this latest edition has been updated to take account of findings from HSE interventions and developments in analytical procedures and methodology. It provides clarification on technical and personal safety issues, especially in relation to sampling and 4-stage clearances. New information on sampling soils for asbestos is also included.
The guidance is designed to assist analysts in complying with their legal obligations and should also be useful to asbestos consultants, occupational hygienists, health and safety professionals, asbestos removal contractors, building owners and facilities managers.
More information on asbestos is available on the HSE website.
by Clair Mooney | 21 May, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Health and Safety, Technical
The government has taken the next step to ensure materials used to build the nation’s homes are safe and tested properly, by announcing the appointment of two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products.
Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Anneliese Day QC. The review will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that these materials are safe and perform as marketed. The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders with a report published later this year with recommendations.
More information is available at www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-experts-to-review-safety-of-construction-materials
by Clair Mooney | 20 May, 2021 | Health and Safety
Today FIS hosted a webinar on covering the topics of Right to Work and Modern Slavery. Delegates were made aware that they are two very different and important subjects and should not be confused.
From July this year, in line with the new points based immigration system, all employers will be required to conduct right to work checks to ensure that their workforce is legal to work in the UK. Remember EU workers (excluding the Republic of Ireland) who have not applied through the settlement scheme by the 30 June will not be legal workers and this may have serious implications for your business. Beyond your legal responsibility to ensure someone is legal to work, it is also vital that we look for and ensure that our workforce is not exploiting individuals through modern slavery. The cost and implications of getting it wrong are serious.
FIS was joined by experts Pamela Zielinski, Construction Programme Manager from Stronger Together and Joanne Young a consultant for the Association of Labour Providers who discussed the risks and how to manage them. The presentations covered:
1. Right To Work offences and sanctions
2. The statutory excuse
3. Manual right to work checks
4. Online right to work checks
5. Impact of coronavirus on RTW checks
6. Routes to work in the UK
7. EU Workers – the grace period
8. Changes from June
9. Retrospective checks
10. How to identify Modern Slavery, what to do if you suspect and the risk of getting it wrong
Visit the FIS Modern Slavery Toolkit here
