Osborne

Osborne's free industry safety briefing 'Stop Think!' was devoted to coronavirus in April 2020. It includes coronavirus guidance for site teams, information on First Aid and Covid-19, as well as site guidance and posters. At the same time, in his introduction Osborne Infrastructure MD John Dowsett makes clear that "if works on our sites cannot be undertaken safely in accordance with the Site Operating Procedures that have been issued by Build UK and the Construction Leadership Council and subsequently adopted by the industry, then those activities should be paused."

Amey

Amey is continuing to build four platform extensions at Kettering station ahead of the return of longer trains. Above you can see the team engaging in its daily safety briefing, ensuring social distancing is rigorously observed.

John Sisk & Sons

In accordance with Government guidelines in the UK, John Sisk & Son's sites remain open. The company's office-based support teams are working from home and can be contacted by email or mobile phone. John Sisk & Son are working hard to ensure staff members on site observe all of the protocols required to adhere to social distancing and hand hygiene to protect themselves, their families and colleagues and the community. They implemented a range of measures and are constantly briefing people on what they need to do. The company is monitoring the situation on a daily basis and will continue to take on board the direction from Government and health authorities.

innDex/
Morgan Sindall

Morgan Sindall has worked alongside innDex to implement a temperature screening solution. This consists of a permanent thermal optic camera at site access points. The camera can detect temperatures between 30ºC to 45ºC, with an accuracy of ± 0.5ºC. InnDex's solution has allowed Morgan Sindall to reduce the time it takes to screen and sign in from 45 minutes to just under 20 minutes, resulting in 55 per cent less lost time, as well as completely eliminating the need for site access controllers to manually - and in close proximity - check the temperature of those accessing the site.

​Electrical Distributors’ Association

Published by the Electrical Distributors' Association, 'Covid-19 & Social Distancing: Practical Guidance for Electrical Wholesale Branches' covers every aspect of a typical branch structure giving ideas and advice on how to adapt processes whilst continuing to trade safely during the pandemic. Developed by EDA and a group of expert wholesalers, the guidance is available to download through the Association's specially created online hub.

ECA/BESA

Leading engineering services sector bodies ECA and BESA have jointly developed two new guides to help contractors to manage coronavirus-related issues on site. The new guides are freely available to the wider industry during the current emergency. They provide sector-relevant guidance for engineering and building services contractors working across construction and FM in two specific areas:

• ‘Specific Environments’ (where there may be higher risk of COVID-19 transmission); and
• ‘close proximity working’ (less than 2m).

The guides have been drawn up with the support of a COVID-19 Expert Panel made up of BESA and ECA safety practitioners.

Ibstock

Brick supplier Ibstock has been re-opening its operations where demand has been greatest. A 'Safe Start' programme has been developed that will see all employees spend their first day focussed on health and safety in the workplace, including measures to protect against the spread of Covid-19 such as social distancing and changed methods of working.

Finishes & Interiors Sector

Having identified over a 100 work items that are currently performed in the finishes and interiors sector where it was deemed difficult to maintain the two-metre working rule, a Task Group established through specialist trade body, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) reviewed methods of work and assigned a ‘traffic light’ category (red, amber, or green) to each task. This has resulted in a Four Step People First COVID-19 Safety Protocol and supporting toolkit aimed at helping contractors manage their return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Wolseley UK

Wolseley UK  has put in place a range of safeguarding measures to ensure the safety of its staff and customers, whilst continuing to provide the essential services its clients need.
 The specialist merchant has:
 

• Temporarily closed some branches – these are detailed here
• Reduced opening hours (orders can still be placed for delivery overnight)
• Provided social distancing and driver guidance, along with PPE and cleaning materials
• Closed on Saturdays (Plumbing & Heating, Building Services & Cooling branches)
• Closed its trade counter doors; pre-orders for essential items can be collected from the safest point on the site
• Made some changes to ways to pay and their returns policy

The Wolseley Customer Support Centre continues to operate 7.30am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 1pm Sunday. The website remains open 24-7 and Distribution Centres continue to operate safely to fulfil essential orders.

Lincolnshire County Council/Balfour Beatty Living Places

Balfour Beatty took over the delivery of the Lincolnshire Highways Contract at the beginning of April. Mobilising presented many challenges which were overcome by undertaking early scenario planning and maintaining a flexible approach. To achieve this BBLP delivered IT equipment to individuals in advance of day one and conducted online inductions and training for all of those who could work from home. For all site-based operatives, this was broken down into groups of two, allowing social distancing to be maintained, and by 3rd day all 180 TUPE staff had been successfully inducted. To maintain continuity of service delivery whilst maintaining social distancing, the company has:
 

• Risk assessed all works to minimise activities which encroach upon the 2m zone
• Provided more vehicles to allow single occupancy travel to site
• Provided all staff with personal hand sanitizer and disinfectant to clean the inside of vehicles
• Ensured social distancing within welfare facilities
• Staggered shift times
• Undertaken daily briefings outdoors whilst maintaining 2m distance

Tarmac

To ensure the health and wellbeing of their employees, Tarmac has hired a significant amount of additional transport to take colleagues to site in a way which adheres to the social distancing guidelines provided by the Government and public health bodies. Tarmac have also introduced a company-wide COVID-19 safety standard. This sets out robust measures and commitments to guide its teams through assessing, managing and mitigating any potential risks during this challenging period and managing all operational activity in strict accordance with the required protocols. Fundamental to this remains the principle that if anyone at any time feels uncomfortable or unsafe, they are encouraged and empowered to immediately stop working and raise these concerns so they can be addressed. By taking these measures, it is possible for Tarmac to continue to play an essential role in keeping our national transport networks safe and open at such a vital time.

BAM Ritchies

BAM Ritchies supported Network Rail
Osborne over the Easter blockade to help remove a speed restriction from the tunnel near Shalford Junction which will cut out delays on this important part of the network. The teams are shown here adhering to safe operating principles while carrying out this vital work.

National Federation of Roofing Contractors

The NFRC have developed a Guidance Note (GN) and Toolbox Talk (TBT) to help roofing contractors to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. These build on recent guidance from the Construction Leadership Council and Public Health England and provide detailed advice on self-isolation, travelling safely to work, accessing a site, improving hygiene on site, welfare facilities and first aid. The Guidance Note also sets out a hierarchy of control for planning close working. This gives discipline and structure to the process of risk assessing a task where working in close proximity of other workers cannot be avoided.

Mackenzie Construction

Civil engineering and structural repair experts Mackenzie Construction have published a remobilisation and social distancing best practice guide, as well as implementing company-wide Risk Assessments and Method Statements which are aimed at protecting employees, subcontractors, and members of the public. Site that are unable to implement these in full will be suspended until a time that social distancing measures can be implemented in full, in accordance with the Construction Leadership Council's Site Operating Procedures.

Highways England

During the current ensuing COVID-19 pandemic, Highways England are adopting alternative methods to safe guard employees and others via social distancing, whilst respecting the local site rules. Offices are now closed or restricting people entering them however, we are still undertaking Safety Leadership Tours (SLT’s), as part of commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of our people and our supply chain partners. Typically, SLTs are carried out by Highways England (HE) staff and our supply chain partners, whilst they are undertaking HE related tasks.
 
SLTs are an important tool in the management of health and safety, and they:

• Enable management to engage in communication with staff about health and safety
• Provide staff with a visible indication of the senior leadership team’s commitment to health and safety
• Allow for the observation of safe and unsafe acts and conditions
• Enables improvement of health and safety standards and housekeeping

 
Virtual Site Safety Tours are taking place on Skype and Microsoft Teams, with embedded videos taken by the key spokesperson on site. Guidance from both the organisation and Construction Leadership Council were followed to ensure the video was taken safely, as mobile phones are not usually allowed on site and it was carefully considered how the filming could be conducted.

Colas

The Colas Retread team are back at work recycling road surfaces. The company has implemented safer working guidelines to ensure that the team can safely deliver their environmentally friendly road cycling - including a new sign to remind all staff to implement social distancing.

Crossrail

Crossrail enacted a ‘Safe Stop’ of all physical works on sites until safe methods of working could be implemented when the pandemic broke out. Working with Tier 1 suppliers, Crossrail enacted a robust planning process, so that all sites were able to restart limited assurance verification and validation activity, adhering to stringent and specific controls to ensure social distancing can be maintained at all times.  All Tier 1 contractors have demonstrated that their local safe systems are robust and fully consider the risks associated with Covid-19. On site, clear signage and social distancing markers have been put in place to remind operatives to observe social distancing measures; canteen facilities have been altered to ensure operatives maintain social distancing on meal breaks; and middle sinks have been blocked off to ensure social distancing is maintained in welfare facilities.

FM Conway

Workers at FM Conway express their thanks to the NHS, while practicing social distancing. In addition, FM Conway have introduced ‘Social Distancing Marshals’ across the business. Each marshal receives training along with a hi-vis jacket to identify themselves on site. These marshals are present on site to ensure that our rules of engagement (including social distancing) are always practised to ensure the protection of everyone with the works area.

Graham Construction

Graham Construction were appointed by Cheshire East Council to deliver the £90 million, 5.7km link road to the north and west of Congleton. 
While construction was not required to pause working under the Prime Minister’s ‘lockdown’ announcement, it was required to only continue works if they could be delivered in full compliance with both Government and PHE guidance. Graham collaborated with the Council to develop a 3-stage strategy which allowed work to continue:-

1. Identify critical activities
2. Risk assess and develop additional controls on those activities to ensure compliance with guidance
3. Communicate and implement changes with all stakeholders, including supply chain partners. 

A core team of Graham management and supervisors plan, implement, review and continue to monitor the changes to operations, welfare, signage and general working arrangements in line with current government guidance for working safely during Covid-19.
For example, to take advantage of the Spring Earthworks season and the exceptionally dry weather we continued with the Bulk earthworks that were on the critical path of the programme. Every plant driver was allocated a machine to use for their sole use which has allowed progress to be made in a safe and effective manner.

A120 Little Hadham Bypass and Flood Alleviation Scheme

Hertfordshire County Council, Environment Agency, GRAHAM (contractor), and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership's project partnership is built on trust and collaboration, and demonstrated how a scheme of this size can continue to operate and make good progress in difficult times.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, additional safeguarding measures enacted include:

• Morning briefings are held outside;
• Social distancing markings are displayed throughout the site offices and a COVID-19 information notice board has been installed;
• All staff have a temperature check on arrival each day and are asked to complete a form at the end of the day noting any change in wellbeing;
• Additional cleaning and welfare facilities have been introduced; and
• Project management functions now operate remotely with regular virtual touchpoints.
• Construction methods updated to COVID-19 safe working following updates in government guidance.
• Increased online information for the public in lieu of village hall meetings.

These measures have led to some delay in the overall scheme completion date; however, this is under regular review to identify efficiencies.

BMF

The Builders' Merchants Federation have produced Branch-Operating Guidelines which provide safe operating guidelines for builders’ merchants branch operations while Covid-19 restrictions continue.  The guidelines cover five key areas – head/branch office and trade counter environments, customer collections, supplier deliveries, deliveries to construction sites and tool hire. 

Colas Rail UK

​Colas Rail UK's Strategic Plant team are continuing work at Guildford for the South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), installing panels on the scheme. Staff are observing social distancing where possible, but as key workers ensuring the UK's rail network continues to function, when staff have to come within the 2 metre distance of co-workers to do their job, PPE is worn and as little time as it practicable is spent in that situation.

Langley Waterproofing Systems

Langley Waterproofing Systems have produced a video that demonstrates safe and responsible guidance for workers on construction sites operating during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure the protection of the workforce and to minimise the risk of spread of infection - watch it below.

BCM Construction

BCM Construction are working as a Tier 1 PC on the Network Rail Hither Green Easter Blockade, as part of the NR Buildings Framework (Kent & Sussex). Social distancing is being deployed and measures put in place for safe working at New Eltham Station, one of nine stations being completed for Network Rail & South Eastern Trains.

A BCM Construction site meeting employing social distancing

LM jv

At LM, the safety of staff and site teams has the highest priority, and during the current pandemic a series of procedural changes have been made in the way teams go to work and stay safe at all times. LM has produced a 'What Good Looks Like' booklet which shares examples of the best practice LM has has put in place across the HS2 Enabling Work North section. Having shared this guide with the LM supply chain, the jv has taken a proactive stance with site operations, taking action and applying controls alongside visual aids to ensure that all workers maintain the 2 metre social distancing guidelines at all times.

Costain/Skanska jv

HS2 Enabling works - Euston Site Induction from Michael Tarrega on Vimeo.

Costain and Skanska, working on behalf of HS2, have implemented a range of changes to how they are working at their Euston Enabling Works site, delivering the UK's most transformational infrastructure scheme while adhering to safe working practices. Watch the video above.

Costain/Galliford Try

Costain Galliford Try are working at M1 Junction 13-16, and have produced various guidance materials to manage compliance with COVID-19 working requirements to protect their workforce, minimise the risk of spreading the disease, maintain standards and ultimately, about behaviour change. The guidance materials include quick guides on travelling in vehicles, PPE requirements and details for when the Operation Director is required to approve any revised safe systems of work.
Updated advice has also been provided to those trained in first aid to highlight additional measures that should be considered whilst administering first aid to further protect both the first aider and injured party during COVID-19. This guidance is in line with St John Ambulance and Resuscitation Council UK. Focusing on health, social distancing and wellbeing, CGT have also provided their staff with links to podcasts and online materials to those working at home or having to self-isolate.

McCarthy & Stone

Committed to ensuring the health and safety of its staff, McCarthy & Stone was one of the first developers to temporarily stand down its construction sites and pause building. Around 500 employees from its construction and sales teams have instead volunteered their time to provide extra support and essential supplies for the homeowners across the company’s retirement communities.  They have been engaged in delivering additional food and medical supplies to ensure all of the vulnerable customers remain safe and well.  All house and estate managers are being supported by a central team to keep them up to date with the latest guidance and information on mitigating the risk of COVID-19 on the developments. Visits have been restricted, additional hand sanitizer points have been installed across all McCarthy & Stone sites and all staff have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to wear when delivering personal care packages to homeowners. A number of additional services have been launched, including a pen pal initiative between its homeowners and local children, and an online chess competition, to keep residents engaged.

Balfour Beatty/Vinci 

​In response to the COVID19 pandemic BBV have considered the additional measures required to administer first aid on site and (if necessary) transfer a casualty to hospital.
All first aid kits have been supplemented with FFP2 face masks, disposable gloves and EN166 eye protection. These supplies are for treatment use only and not for staff in general occupation. In addition, in recognition that the response from the emergency services may not be as fast as normally expected, a minibus has been modified to take a stretcher. This is now designated as the emergency response vehicle and available should a casualty need to be taken to a hospital before the emergency services were able to respond.

With multiple aggregate delivery wagons (and various other deliveries moving forward), the collection of delivery tickets was a problem in relation to maintaining social distancing.  One of BBV's subcontractors came up with the simple idea of using litters pickers to collect the tickets from the drivers. The use of litter pickers has been adopted project wide

Kingspan

Kingspan is committed to providing a safe working environment to protect its employees. Detailed risk assessments have been carried out at all UK sites and a range of measures have been implemented to ensure they meet current health and safety guidance whilst continuing to service demand for materials at critical projects across the country.
 Kingspan Insulation and Kingspan Technical Insulation have also created online resources for construction workers and building services installers, providing clear advice on how to maintain best practice when installing Kingspan’ insulation solutions during the pandemic. These resources are regularly updated in line with the latest advice from government and industry bodies.