We’ve reached that time of year again. It’s a few weeks since the clocks turned back, the afternoons feel like night-time and many people in construction – whether on site or in office-based roles – are starting and finishing their working day in the dark.
Shorter, darker days can increase the risk of accidents on site, make commuting more hazardous and create extra opportunities for crime. The good news is that a few simple habits and precautions can make a big difference. In this blog, we look at three key areas for staying safe: working on site, driving to and from work and protecting sites from crime.
From tower cranes shifting steel beams to hoists raising materials up tall façades, lifting equipment is central to modern construction. But along with that power comes huge responsibility. When lifting operations go wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic – collapse, dropped loads, people getting struck or even fatally injured.
In this week’s blog, we’ll cover why mechanical lifting demands rigorous planning and control and share some practical DO’s and DON’Ts based on HSE guidance.
Over the summer months, we used this blog to explore some of the most popular construction careers – from bricklaying and roofing to carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating. These are quite different roles in terms of skills and daily tasks, but they share one common requirement: if you want to work on a construction site, you’ll almost certainly need a CSCS card.
So, what exactly is a CSCS card, why is it so important and how do you go about getting one? Read on to find out everything you need to know.
Construction work can be tough on the skin. From contact with hazardous substances to prolonged sun exposure, workers face daily risks that can lead to serious skin conditions, including dermatitis, chemical burns and even skin cancer.
Protecting your skin isn’t just about comfort – it’s essential for long-term health and safety. Find out more about the dangers and what you can do to reduce the health risks in our latest Focus on Safety blog.
Falling objects pose a significant threat to worker safety on UK construction sites. These incidents can result in serious injuries and even fatalities, making it absolutely for everyone on site to understand what can cause an object to fall and how to implement effective prevention strategies.
For this week’s blog, we’re returning to our ‘Focus on Safety’ series and looking into this critical issue in more detail.
Cold Arctic air across the UK is leading to widespread hard frosts and some of the coldest sub-zero temperatures so far this winter.
While snow cumulations are often the most disruptive, for the construction industry it’s equally important to address the increased risks posed by freezing temperatures and icy conditions on-site. Preparation is key to ensuring safety and productivity during the winter months so read this week’s blog for some critical information and tips.
While cleaning up might seem like a secondary concern on a bustling construction site, taking the time to remove scrap materials, dispose of debris properly and store tools securely is crucial. These practices aren’t just about keeping things tidy; they’re essential for preventing accidents, injuries and environmental hazards.
In many cases, incidents involving slips, trips and falls could have been prevented if the site had simply followed better housekeeping practices. Take note of some top tips in this week’s blog.
After a few chilly early mornings and, as we’re likely heading into the coldest months of the year, it’s time once again for the construction industry to brace itself against the full impact of winter.
Working outdoors in rain, snow, ice, fog or wind can be harsh, however there are practical solutions which can help ensure such work is carried out productively and that every site worker stays safe and healthy. Take just a few minutes out of your day to read this week’s blog, where we’re sharing three strategies for weatherproofing the construction site.
The Health and Safety Executive estimates that, in Great Britain, 4000 construction workers die every year from respiratory diseases caused by long-term exposure to dust particles at work. That’s around 100 times more deaths caused by ill health in the sector than fatal accidents!
So, to answer the question posed in the title of this week’s blog, ‘why wear a mask’, the answer is pretty simple – it might just save your life. Read on for more on this important topic.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), over 1.2 million working days are lost in the UK because of injuries caused during manual handling tasks in the construction industry.
Aside from the economic impact, such injuries can be painful and have long-term, serious consequences – particularly those involving back problems like slipped discs and repetitive strain injuries. At Sheriff Construction, our site workers undertake mandatory training in this area but we thought we’d use this week’s blog as a reminder of why this is such a backbone of safety in construction and pass on a few general ‘DOs’ and ‘DON’Ts’.