With essential construction work set to continue during the latest lockdown, FIS has helped the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum create a new face mask campaign that urges operatives to make a safe start to 2021.

The unique collective has launched an animation and downloadable infographic to remind workers that it’s vitally important to help protect everyone by following the rules and using the right face covering in the right way.

Headlined Mask for Task: Cover for Covid, the initiative emphasises that workers should wear the appropriate respirator or mask for each task and that a face covering of suitable material should be worn when moving around site.

It also gives specific instructions on how to – and how not to – wear face coverings as well as instructions for taking care of personal protective equipment, such as storing masks in a sealable bag when not in use.

The material was initiated through the FIS H&S Working Group and developed by Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive, in partnership with Rebecca Crosland, Health and Safety Adviser at the Building Engineering Services Association and Chair of the Forum’s Health and Safety sub-group, and Iain Mason, Director of Membership and Communications at SELECT and Chair of the Forum’s Communications sub-group.

Iain McIlwee said: “Since the CICV Forum was established, it has played a key role in creating engaging animations and infographics that have proved effective tools and helped deliver essential messaging to an extremely wide audience.

“The new animation is designed to be shared on social media and the poster can be downloaded free of charge here. Both reinforce the responsibility that everyone in construction shares to make sure that they use the correct face covering for the correct situation, worn in the correct manner.”

Rebecca said: “One of the most direct ways of staying safe is to ensure correct mask use, which this latest infographic and animation promotes. The information is easy to follow and will help operatives protect themselves and their colleagues, customers, friends and family.”

As the industry picks up tools again after the festive break, the Forum is also reiterating its latest guidance on practical measures that workers can follow to protect themselves and their colleagues, customers, friends and family.

Driving home the message that we are In This Together, the Forum is reissuing its suite of guidance that outlines safety during domestic projects, guidance on returning to work safely, the importance of physical distancing outside work and giving contractors space to carry out essential work.

Iain Mason said: “With essential construction work being allowed to continue during lockdown, it is incumbent on everyone working in the sector to ensure that they are operating safely, whatever their capacity.

“That’s why we are also stepping up our full range of social media messaging about travel, social distancing and domestic work to ensure everyone is clear on exactly what behaviours are required at all times.”

Made up of trade associations, private companies and professional bodies, including the FIS, the Forum was set up in March 2020, since when it has drawn on the collective expertise of its members to maintain a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector.

• Watch the animation here and download the infographic here.

In her address to the Scottish Parliament today First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to tighten lockdown measures from midnight tonight.

The First Minister used evidence of accelerating spread of COVID-19 in Scotland (a further 1,905 new cases were reported on Monday – with 15% of tests returning a positive result) to underline the news that a new legal, stay-at-home order was necessary and would come into force from midnight tonight.

Construction was not covered specifically within the speech, however, the First Minister stressed that every businesses should take this as seriously as in March and “look at their operations and ensure that every single function that can be done by people working at home is being done in that way”.  FIS understand this to mean that construction can continue in accordance with the Construction Scotland Site Operating Procedures.  We await further guidance from the Scottish Parliament and will update accordingly.  The First Minister also advised that anybody who is in the Shielding category should not leave the house for the purposes of work and the Chief Medical Officer will be writing to this group to provide further clarity.

In the event of construction workers being stopped on journeys to and from sites, Build UK has produced an authorisation letter template which employers can use.  Breaching the stay at home guidance would attract a minimum £60 fine without a reasonable excuse (e.g. work, a medical appointment, exercise or to collect food and supplies).  Other aspects of the guidance will see all schools close (for most pupils) til the 1st February.

CICV-SOP-Guidance-Book has been developed to extend this guidance mindful of the best available guidance, nationally and internationally, and serves as a guide for the management of COVID-19 on a construction site for the duration of the pandemic.  Additional information to support safe working in a pandemic are available through the FIS H&S Toolkit here.

Follow the latest COVID updates on the FIS COVID-19 Hub here.

The full speech from the First Minister is available via the link below.

 hile the rollout of the Covid vaccine has raised hopes of a return to normality, a difficult winter and spring looms.

GDP in October confirmed slowing activity as month-on-month output growth fell to 0.4%. The imposition of restrictions to avoid the overwhelming of the NHS impacted output. The ONS’ data shows that the majority of bounce-back in activity had occurred by July and the subsequent recovery has disappointed.

The economy is now set to shrink in Q4 as November’s UK-wide lockdown forced a slowdown in activity. The recovery is also set to be weaker than previously expected due to a disruptive Brexit.

November sees marginal increase as contract awards reach £4.9 billion

Residential is the largest sector with 38.9% of awards whilst London is the leading region.

In the three months to October 2020, total construction output increased by 24.9% compared with the previous three month period (May to June 2020) according to the latest data release from ONS. New work saw 23.8% increase, whilst repair and maintenance increased by 26.8%.

New housing was particularly strong with the private sector showing 48.0% increase and public sector new housing up by 33.2%.

Also showing strong growth was the private commercial sector (15.9% increase) with the private industrial sector up by 14.9%. The housing sector was also at the forefront in the repair and maintenance sectors with 51.1% increase for the public sector, with the private housing sector also showing 40% increase on the previous 3 month period. However, annual comparisons show that the quarter to October 2020 is less positive that for the comparable quarter in 2019 with total work down by 9.9%, new work down by 11.8% and repair and maintenance output showing 6.3% decline. In addition, the annual comparison shows that with the exception of infrastructure new work, output for all sectors is between 3.3% and 29.6% lower in the October quarter 2020 than for the October quarter 2019.

 FIS members can access the full report here.