Personal protective equipment, or PPE, remains one of the most visible and recognisable elements of construction site safety. Hard hats, high-visibility clothing, safety glasses and protective footwear are all part of everyday working life on site.
But while PPE may feel routine, it should never be taken for granted. It is often described as the last line of defence – the final protective layer when other control measures cannot fully eliminate safety risks. Used correctly, PPE helps prevent serious injury; using it incorrectly or while damaged can give a false sense of security.
In this week’s Focus on Safety feature, we look at why PPE is so important, when it is required, and how to ensure it is properly fitted, maintained and inspected.
When new homes are built, they are supposed to bring more to local communities than bricks and mortar. Through Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, developers contribute millions of pounds each year towards local infrastructure – funding schools, healthcare facilities, transport improvements and affordable housing.
Yet recent figures show that more than £9 billion in developer contributions is currently sitting unspent in local authority accounts. For communities waiting for improved services and infrastructure, that is not just an accounting issue – it is a missed opportunity. Read this week’s blog to understand why rising unspent contributions matter and what the real impact is for local areas.
Social value in construction is embedded into how projects are commissioned, how contractors are evaluated and how success is measured across the sector. Clients and communities rightly expect businesses to demonstrate meaningful impact beyond the physical asset delivered.
At Sheriff Construction, we take that responsibility seriously. Our latest Social Value Impact Report sets out how social value is integrated across our business and the measurable difference it is making. Keep reading to see what the report reveals.
In the UK, falls from height are consistently one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities, particularly within the construction sector. This makes effective fall protection an essential part of any safe working environment. Understanding what fall protection involves and how to implement it properly helps keep workers safe and ensures sites remain compliant, efficient and productive for everyone involved.
Keep reading this week’s blog to learn more about why fall protection matters, the hierarchy of protection measures that should be deployed and how to ensure equipment such as personal fall arrest systems are used correctly on site.