April is Stress Awareness Month

The aim of Stress Awareness Month is to increase public awareness about the causes of stress and how to help combat stress in this modern-day life. Handling stress can be different for everyone, and it can filter in from various parts of your life, from your workplace to personal relationships.

COVID-19 has undoubtedly contributed to elevated levels of stress for everyone, Continue reading…

Why managers and supervisors need training on Tower Scaffolds

This month Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (PASMA) held their Tower Safety Webinars.  An important issue arising out of this year’s webinar related to the suitability of the Skills, Knowledge, Training, Experience of those employee’s that manage the selection and provision of Towers as an access solution and the Skills, Knowledge, Training and Experience of supervisory employees; as well as that of the operatives expected to erect them. Continue reading…

Construction Leadership Council – Protecting your workforce during Coronavirus

The Construction Leadership Council periodically releases their operating procedures for workforces on site, whilst the risk of COVID-19 exists.  Currently Version 7 – 07th Jan 2021.

The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to reflect the latest Government guidance in England. The changes in Version 7 are minor, including updated guidance on self-isolation and shielding and the removal of the requirement to display a QR code in site canteens. Continue reading…

Statutory Inspections during Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced a range of challenges for businesses with many restrictions on normal operations. This may include difficulty in getting support from contractors on carrying out statutory inspections, examinations and test of plant and equipment or the need to close premises.

Failure to carry out a statutory inspection, examination and test would be a breach of legislation Continue reading…

Covid-19: RIDDOR Reporting

Members of the public and non-work-related cases

There is no requirement under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) to report incidents of disease or deaths of members of the public, patients, care home residents or service users from COVID-19.

The reporting requirements relating to cases of, or deaths from, COVID-19 under RIDDOR apply only to occupational exposure, that is, as a result of a person’s work. Continue reading…

A Guide to Homeworking

Businesses continue to change their work routines to accommodate the COVID-19 risk, with many now considering moving over to homeworking as a permanent measure.

If you are considering permanent homeworking, as an employer it is important to remember that you still have a duty of care to those employees working from home and as such should take appropriate measures to ensure their health, safety and welfare is considered in the same way it would be from their workplace.

Continue reading…

Supporting homeworkers with display screen equipment

If you run a business, the chances are you now have employees working from home, whether still on a temporary basis or making the change permanently.

For those people who are working at home on a long-term basis, the risks associated with using display screen equipment (DSE) must be controlled. This includes them doing workstation assessments at home. Continue reading…

NRSWA Card Production Temporarily Suspended

In accordance with Government advice, SWQR card production for Operatives and Supervisors has been suspended until 31st January.  The decision on whether card production can resume in February will be based upon further updates and levels of restrictions imposed by Government. Continue reading…