by Clair Mooney | 18 Aug, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is continuing to carry out spot checks and inspections by calling, visiting and inspecting all types of businesses as Scotland moved beyond level 0 on 9 August.
The spot check programme provides expert advice during the calls and visits, on keeping workplaces safe and to help assess the risks and continue to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The guidance also provides advice on sensible precautions employers can take to manage risk and support their staff and customers. Health and safety legislation continues to apply and the legal duty for businesses to follow the advice to stop the spread of COVID-19 remains.
The following workplace controls remain unchanged:
Businesses must also take account of requirements that remain in public health regulations and guidance for Scotland and continue to consult their workforce on health and safety. Talking to workers and their representatives helps identify how to reduce risk.
Failure to follow current health and safety guidance could lead to enforcement action. So, if you receive a call from HSE, it is important to act upon it.
View further information on the spot check programme.
by Clair Mooney | 13 Aug, 2021 | Main News Feed
From Monday 16 August, people who have received two doses of a covid vaccine or who are aged under 18 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive case. This means that fully vaccinated contacts will routinely be able to attend work if they do not have symptoms.
Instead of self-isolating, those who are identified as close contacts of positive covid cases are advised to get a free PCR test as soon as possible. Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status or age. Build UK has updated its COVID‐19 flowchart with the latest information on when to self‐isolate.
Vaccination
To encourage people to take up the vaccine when offered, NHS England is offering large employers access to local health professionals who staff can speak to confidentially to ask questions or raise concerns they may have about the vaccination. There is also a range of messages explaining the vaccine programme that employers can share with staff through internal staff communication networks.
If you would be interested in learning more about the offer from NHS England please contact Howard Wheeler at the Cabinet Office: howard.wheeler@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
by Clair Mooney | 12 Aug, 2021 | Main News Feed
A new, free two-day ‘OPEN’ showroom trail event has been launched by the BCFA (British Contract Furnishing Association) and WOD (Women in Office Design) to celebrate the reopening of the Clerkenwell Furniture and Design showrooms.
The event, which is supported by FIS, takes place on 9 and 10 September and will see a host of leading brands showcasing their latest designs and products for the workplace and hospitality sector, with many running their own events during the two days.
It will also feature a seminar programme organised by WOD. Visit https://www.clerkenwell-open.co.uk/wod-seminars-workshops-programme-for-clerkenwell-open-2021/ to find out more about the seminar topics.
Clerkenwell Open will be attended by a wide-ranging audience of decision makers and influencers, including architects, designers, clients/end users and property professionals.
FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia, who will be giving a talk on office acoustics on Thursday 9 September at 1pm at Flokk‘s showroom said: ‘It is a honour to have been asked to help celebrate the reopening of the Clerkenwell showrooms. Acoustics are a complex subject. It’s easy to know when it’s not right because it’s too noisy or there is lack of privacy or too much disturbance from adjoining spaces. My talk will help explain the properties of sound and four ways of controlling it.
If you would like to find out more, or to register for a FREE ticket visit www.clerkenwell-open.co.uk
by Clair Mooney | 5 Aug, 2021 | Main News Feed
There will be an additional bank holiday next year to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) Working Rule Agreement formally recognises eight bank holidays each year, and the CIJC is proposing that this is increased to nine next year, as was the case in 2011 and 2012 for other royal milestones. It is proposed that double pay for working the additional day would not apply but time off in lieu would be granted.
The CIJC has launched a new website making it easier to access the Working Rule Agreement and guidance on terms and conditions of employment, including minimum pay rates as well as holiday dates, for those working in the industry.
by Clair Mooney | 2 Aug, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Main News Feed
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation “Building Standards (Fire Safety) – A consultation on external wall systems”. They are looking to address issues in relation to the design and construction of buildings and the safety of persons in and around buildings in the event of fire spread onto external wall cladding systems.
The consultation papers can be viewed here. Members are invited to send their comments by Friday 1 October 2021 to iainmcilwee@thefis.org so that we can respond collectively to the consultation.
The issues under consideration are covered in seven questions relating to:
- The wording in the Building Technical Handbooks for domestic and non-domestic buildings of mandatory clause 2.7 relating to fire spread on external walls
- Consideration on a definition and ban of the highest risk metal composite material cladding panels
- Options to improving standards and guidance on cladding systems, including the role of the large scale fire test, BS 8414
- Consequential matters such as exemptions for certain penetrations and openings
- Impact assessment.
These proposed changes aim to improve fire safety for the design and construction stages of all buildings in relation to external wall cladding systems making them safe for those in and around buildings in the event of a fire.
by Clair Mooney | 2 Aug, 2021 | Main News Feed
Build UK has worked with market intelligence provider Tussell to analyse the delivery of the IPA’s National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline 2020/21. The analysis, which looks at whether the top 50 projects were tendered in line with the target dates in the pipeline, reveals how difficult it was to reconcile information due to inconsistent terminology and a lack of detail across projects and programmes, as well as little open data for some sectors due to procurement rules and publishing standards. Overall Tussell was able to confirm the status of just 50% of projects and put forward a number of recommendations to improve future pipelines and make them more valuable for the industry, which is a key policy in the Construction Playbook.
The Construction Procurement Pipeline 2021/22 is due to be published shortly and will include further information on contracts, including if they are part of a framework and whether they are a contracting or consulting opportunity
