Without the right PPE, a construction site can become a very dangerous place and this is especially true when it comes to head injuries. But did you know that hard hats represent only 3% of PPE purchases in our industry and that only 6% of workers who have had a head injury at work seek medical attention? In response to these and other startling statistics, the brain injury charity, ‘Headway’, designated one week this June as Hard Hat Awareness Week, urging everyone in the industry to audit their head-protecting equipment. Read on to find out more about what you can do to safeguard yourself against a life-changing head injury.
Sheriff Construction was thrilled to receive a prestigious award from IKO last week. The award, which placed Sheriff as ‘Highly Commended’ was made in relation to the roofing works that we have been carrying out in the upcoming London hotspot of Charlton but also in recognition of our company’s story and the wider support we’ve offered to the communities we work in. Read more in this week’s blog.
In his book, ‘A Life On Our Planet’, Sir David Attenborough paints a bleak picture of what lies ahead if humanity continues to live as unsustainably as it is currently. It’s not a complete picture of doom and gloom, however, as he also lays out a series of actions we might take to prevent further damage and actually reverse some of the impact we have had on the natural world. A key part of that involves switching from a mindset that’s addicted to growth to a focus on a new sustainable measure of success involving the three Ps – people, planet and profit. Read on to find out more about this, including what we in the construction industry can do to embrace this way of thinking.
According to CPRE The Countryside Charity, the UK has over 25,000 hectares of brownfield land across 21,000 sites. Many are run-down plots of land that represent all kinds of safety hazards and, when stuck in such poor condition for several years, they become a real blot on the landscape. So what should all this land be used for? A survey carried out by Romal Capital found that 59% of the British public would opt for either the building of modern, efficient homes and communities to help solve the ongoing housing crisis or cultural landmarks. Read more about both the survey and the work we’re doing to prioritise brownfield development in this week’s blog.
Anyone involved in the roofing business will know that the job simply could not be done without frequently coming into contact with and using a range of products that are regulated by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSSH) Assessment.
While most dangers can be avoided by following the correct handling procedures, accidents do occur in the industry and so it’s really important that roofers know what to do in the event of a problem. Here’s a reminder of the appropriate First Aid measures required in relation to some of the commonly used COSSH substances.
With the deadline for EU citizens living in the UK to apply for legal status under the EU Settlement Scheme coming up on 30th June, the government has just launched a campaign urging people to get their applications in as soon as possible.
Having already lost more than a quarter of its EU-born workforce as people left the country before the end of the Brexit transition period, the recovery of the UK’s construction industry could be under serious threat if it were to lose more of this valuable workforce. Read on for more details about the campaign and find out what you should be doing right now if this issue affects you.
While we may have become partly accustomed to how some of these things affect our daily lives, the strangeness, chaos, sadness and uncertainty that’s gone hand-in-hand with the pandemic has undoubtedly had a huge impact on many people’s mental health and wellbeing. As this week is Mental Health Awareness Week, today’s blog serves as a timely reminder to place just as much importance on your mental health as you would on your physical health. Find out more about the campaign, some simple measures you can take to support your wellbeing plus details of other organisations who can help if you’re struggling.
The UK, Welsh and Scottish governments have signed up to a legally-binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. But to keep this target on track, the Construction Industry Training Board estimates that around 350,000 new construction jobs will need to be created by 2028, particularly outlining the need for green building specialists to reduce carbon emissions. This looks set to present both significant challenges and huge opportunities for construction companies. Read this week’s blog to find out more.
The Construction Product Association’s latest Spring Forecast, published today, paints a mixed picture for the construction industry. On the positive side, the report is predicting that construction output will rise by 12.9% this year (and another 5.2% in 2022). However, it also highlights some significant risks to the sector’s recovery, most notably around shortages and high prices affecting key construction products. Take a look at this week’s blog to find out more about why getting hold of some of these products could prove tricky over the year ahead.
Despite expectations that house prices would fall due to the coronavirus pandemic, the virus seems to have been no match for the UK’s buoyant property market which, over the last year as seen house prices hit some record highs. That might seem good news for sellers but, with many modern buyers seeking a touch of luxury, anyone trying to sell an older property may want to look for ways in which they can make it stand out and enhance the value of the sale. In this week’s blog, we’re sharing some tips for making your property appeal to potential buyers. On top of that, we’ve also got a treat for first-time buyers with the launch of our brand new development of apartments, bungalows and houses at Kingham Way, Luton – on sale right now!