by Oscar Venus | 11 Oct, 2024 | Health and Safety, Technical
A recent safety report from Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS) has highlighted a consideration for contractors around the design of moment connections in staircase stringers that have be under designed. Mandatory occurrence reporting procedures that are required under the building safety act in higher risk buildings demand that anyone on site report issues whenever and wherever we see them, and this could be crucial where a specialist sub-contractor has any interfacing works or is responsible for elements that conceal or clad these details.
Ensuring that all parties involved in the construction and design process are aware of their responsibilities is essential for maintaining safety standards. This includes conducting thorough inspections and collaborating closely with design engineers to verify that all moment connections are correctly specified and installed. It also emphasises the importance of continuous training and communication among team members to recognise and address potential risks before they escalate into safety hazards.
Moreover, the report underscores the value of fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, where every worker feels empowered to voice concerns without fear of repercussions. By doing so, the industry can work towards a safer built environment, minimising the likelihood of structural failures and ensuring the well-being of all building occupants.
In light of these findings, contractors and subcontractors should prioritise regular audits of design specifications and site practices, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and adapting to emerging challenges with agility and diligence
by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2024 | Health and Safety
Tuesday 10 September marks World Suicide Prevention Day, part of National Suicide Prevention Month. This campaign aims to raise awareness about suicide preventionand how we can work together to create a world where fewer people die by suicide.
Currently, more than 700,000 people a year take their life around the world and by raising awareness, reducing the stigma and encouraging action, we can help to reduce the instances of suicide around the world.
This year’s theme is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’, which serves as a chance to #StartTheConversation around suicide and shift the culture to one of openness, empathy and support. Every chat, no matter how small, will build a supportive and understanding society and help provide support to anyone who is struggling.
There are lots of available services that can be accessed for anyone who is struggling:
https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/world-suicide-prevention-day/
by Clair Mooney | 12 Aug, 2024 | Health and Safety, Member Benefits, Technical
FIS is thrilled to announce a new partnership with UKATA, a leading authority in asbestos training. This partnership solidifies the collaboration between the two organisations and aims to further enhance the education and training opportunities related to asbestos across the construction and interiors sectors.
This new relationship reflects the commitment of both organisations to work closely together in advancing asbestos awareness and safety measures across the industry. By combining their expertise, resources, and industry knowledge, UKATA and FIS intend to strengthen efforts to prevent asbestos-related diseases and ensure the highest standards of safety in asbestos management.
Debbie Nixon, UKATA Senior Operations Manager expressed her excitement about the partnership saying,
“We are delighted to formalise our collaboration with the Finishes and Interiors Sector, and I look forward to contributing to our collective efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos.”
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS commented,
‘Asbestos has slipped out of the headlines a bit in recent times, but we cannot get complacent. It is true that usage has been banned since the turn of the century, but it was so widely used historically that we will continue to encounter it in refurbishment works for many, many years to come. If disturbed and inappropriately managed, it is a killer and one of the worst we have known in construction – there is no safe level of exposure. It is critical that construction workers know how to identify and react when they encounter asbestos, not just for their own safety, but for all those around them. This new partnership is about ensuring that the next generation of construction workers have access to the training they need and are not at risk from decisions made in the past and eminently avoidable mistakes that ignorance and complacency may allow today’.
Both UKATA and FIS share a common commitment to asbestos awareness, training, and safety.
by Oscar Venus | 13 Jun, 2024 | Health and Safety
On Tuesday this week, FIS hosted its Health and Safety working group meeting. We would like to extend our thanks to all those who attended and supported discussions around Health and Safety Statistics, Pallet Movement, CPR, Defibrillator Training, Dust and Muscular Skeletal Issues, and HAVS.
Safety Alerts and Actions: BDL shared a safety alert regarding a fatality associated with Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC). Various actions and agreed items were highlighted, such as the need for volunteers to review existing FIS guidance on manual handling and load handling, completion of the FIS H&S and Accident Survey, and the trial of Pallet Loop trucks.
Future Focus: There was a consensus on the importance of updating guidance on HAVS and manual handling. Discussions also took place regarding specific training for handling boards and the development of more H&S specific training using the FIS e-learning platform.
Feedback and Suggestions
This contributions of this group are invaluable in promoting a safe and healthy working environment.
If you are interested in attending the next H&S working group, email info@thefis.org We welcome topics for future discussions, or areas for improvement in the FIS H&S Toolkit.
by Oscar Venus | 17 May, 2024 | Employment, Fairness, Inclusivity and Respect (FIR), Health and Safety
Prioritising mental health can be hard and is often forgot about, but it not only impacts your team, your business can also suffer. Your employees deserve a safe working environment and learning how to take care of your people will make a significant difference to your business’ productivity and absenteeism.
To learn more about managing mental health in your business join our Associate Service Provider Member Citation’s upcoming webinar ‘Mental health awareness- Building a healthier happier team’ taking place on Tuesday 21 May from 11-12pm.
What’s included?
- Everything you need to know about stress risk assessments
- How to engage your employees and boost productivity
- Practical tools to support wellbeing and manage stress in your business
Register now: https://tinyurl.com/jy2jw7b4
If you’d like to chat about how Citation can help with the HR and Health & Safety side of your business, just fill in their call-back form, and they’ll get right back to you. Remember to quote ‘The Finishes and Interiors Sector’ when enquiring to access preferential rates.
by Clair Mooney | 21 Mar, 2024 | Health and Safety
FIS is working with The Diabetes Safety Organisation (DSO) to draw attention to the vital issue and risks that can be posed by diabetes in the workplace. Diabetes is often misunderstood and underestimated as a condition, and its impact on individuals and the workplace is not always visible. Around 8% of your employees have diabetes and around 33% have pre-diabetes. Many employees with diabetes ‘hide’ their condition at work and/or feel unsupported by their employer, leading to poor diabetes management for individuals and greater diabetes risks for them and the business.
In a previous issue of SpecFinish, we heard from Kate Walker, Director at Diabetes Safety Organisation, who explained that the rapid increase in the number of people with diabetes means that it is very likely that some employees on site will have the condition. Employers, therefore, must understand the risks and know how to support affected employees and their colleagues. You can read he full article here https://www.specfinish.co.uk/diabetes-the-invisible-epidemic-creating-major-health-and-safety-risks/
There are 1 million people living with undiagnosed diabetes. Undiagnosed and poorly managed diabetes can lead to significant changes in eye sight, lack of sensation in feet and lower concentration levels. Additionally it causes long term damage to key organs like the heart and kidneys, increasing the number of people who exit the workplace early. With the correct support at work, people can better manage their condition, improving their productivity, concentration and over all safety.
There is limited real world data on diabetes in the workplace and we are looking for organisations to help us and themselves understand key organisational risks such as:
- Whether work practices are compromising the ability of employees with diabetes to manage their condition according to their health providers’ recommendations
- Whether severe hypos are being hidden/not recorded in health and safety data
- Whether employees know how to recognise and assist a colleague experiencing a hypo
- Whether employees with diabetes are choosing to not disclose their condition to their line manager/HR
- Whether employees with diabetes are compliant with DVLA driving regulations
- Whether employees understand the risks from undiagnosed diabetes
- Whether line managers are confident in their knowledge of diabetes risks at work and ability to support employees with diabetes
The survey is confidential and can be completed here – https://forms.office.com/r/iZ1aX051Va
