Alcohol and drugs in UK construction industry placed under spotlight

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Alcohol and drugs in UK construction industry have been placed under the spotlight by the Considerate Constructors Scheme after a survey has revealed that two in three (59%) people working in the industry have concerns over the effects of drugs and alcohol on the industry.

A recent survey of over 1300 people working across the industry discovered that almost two thirds (59%) or respondents have concerns over the effects of drugs and alcohol in construction, yet a similar amount (65%) have never been tested for drugs and alcohol.

The survey, which was conducted by the Considerate Constructors Scheme in May 2016 also revealed that:

  • Two in five people (39%) admitted the issue of drugs or alcohol could be better tackled in their workplace
  • A third (35%) have noticed their colleagues under the influence of drugs and alcohol
  • One in four (25%) agreed drugs or alcohol affected them at work through tiredness
  • Nearly a quarter (23%) agreed it affected them through decreased attention during work
  • One in five (19%) agreed the effects made them less productive at work.

There is clearly some work to be done based on these findings. Many contractors, suppliers and clients of the industry undertake rigorous and regular measures to tackle this issue including zero tolerance to drugs and alcohol, random testing, providing information on drugs and alcohol through toolbox talks, site inductions and resources such as on-site posters.

Mosaic provides a simple solution that allows secure and safe storage of confidential medical records against worker records. Operate with the peace of mind knowing that this confidential information is ring fenced and password protected allowing only designated members of the user community access. This user friendly solution allows renewal dates in line with fit for work medical records and health surveillance tests to be highlighted.

When specific medical records are approaching renewal time, Mosaic automatically electronically alerts the relevant party, albeit the contractor or subcontractor, to action a renewal with their employee. This saves considerable amount of time chasing and cuts down on paperwork as well.

Please contact us to discuss our solutions further

Source: SHP online

Biosite’s wireless fire alarm shortlisted for British Engineering Excellence Award

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Biosite are delighted that their Wireless Fire Alarm has been shortlisted for the ‘New Product (Electronic) of the year’ Award at the British Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEAs).

beea-awards

MA Business, publishers of New Electronics and Eureka magazines, have announced the shortlist for this year’s British Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEAs). See the shortlist here.

Hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Steph McGovern, the winners of this year’s Awards will be revealed on Thursday 6 October at The Honourable Artillery Club (HAC) in London.

Some 250 people from the UK’s engineering community will come together to recognise the achievements of all shortlisted organisations.

About Biosite’s Wireless Fire Alarms

Wireless fire alarms with first aid call points, intelligent, safety compliant & cost effective. Biosite’s Wireless Fire Alarm solution protects your workforce on site, whilst ensuring your compliance with HSE regulations.

  • Built in wall mounting brackets – easy to mount to walls, fire-stands and ceilings.
  • Simple and cost effective battery change – no skilled labour or special equipment required.
  • Long-life battery pack.
  • Intelligent digital mesh network technology – enhanced radio range (Power – 250mW) tested to over 4 kilometers.
  • Independent reset function for First Aid and Fire Alarm on call point.
  • Fully wireless interconnecting alarm with integrated first aid call point – allows for localised base station alerts.
  • Single or double knock options – minimises work disruption due to false alarms.
  • Provision of smoke detectors, heat detectors, trolleys and extinguishers.
  • Adjustable sounder volume – can be set according to site conditions.
  • GSM (SMS) text messaging – out-of-hours notification (information only).
  • IP rated weatherproof external call points with first aid.
  • On-site support – backed up by Biosite field engineers – on call availability.
  • Base station with detailed display to include: number of units connected, low battery alerts and notification of unit removal.

Unleash real value

Automatic turnstile release upon activation – allowing for faster evacuation. Automatic and accurate print out of roll call reports by sub-contractor.

Biosite’s fully wireless interconnecting alarm with first aid call points is designed to be re-used on multiple projects. The solution is simple to set up on site and easy to re-configure when you want to add or remove units.

Complying with latest legislation

  • Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) where detection and alarms are used during the construction or renovation phase of the building
  • HSE (HSG168; 223)
  • Marked and tested by an accredited independent 3rd party
  • Category 1 receiver – ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)

 

Importance of toolbox talks – a common feature within effective site management techniques

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A toolbox talk is a very short informal safety talk and all about sharing best practice. Normally delivered on-site (not in a training room) and on a specific subject matter. It is a focused and to the point presentation with a specific safety message. The overall objective is to raise awareness of a particular aspect of the work. Effective training should be delivered on a continual basis and is essential for the reduction of accident/incident rates and the occurrence of ill-health and environmental damage on projects. Attendance should be recorded to ensure the message is received and understood allowing for subject matter issues to be monitored thereafter.

To ensure effective toolbox talks, you will need to ensure that all workers participate and are engaged in the toolbox talk.  Knowing and understanding the material delivered is really important too, thus ensuring good delivery.

Key points to remember while delivering toolbox talks to the workforce:

1). Relate information directly towards field activities.

2). Ensure your message is clear and understood.

3). Provide questions and answers sessions at the end.

4). Encourage group interaction but keep them on track.

5). Take your time. Do not rush a toolbox talk.

6). Always identify who their immediate supervisors are and explain that all issues should go through their supervisors first and foremost before being taken to others.

Toolbox talks can be time consuming as just gathering the workforce round to listen someone before the start of day’s work can affect productivity. Hence the aim is to be informal and supervisors can get certain members of the workforce to gather around during their rounds. This also allows for tailored messages to different trade to be delivered.

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For staff based in the site office, briefings can also be issued through Mosaic. The system will be automatically updated as soon as the attachment is opened. In relation to field based operatives, Mosaic allows briefings / toolbox talks prior to coming on site on their mobile devices via email. Once the briefing is delivered, attendance is recorded by scanning their Smart Card on a mobile device

In a recent HSE report entitled ‘The effectiveness of HSE’s regulatory approach: The construction example – 2016 (RR1082)’ a detailed omnibus survey was conducted amongst 5000 plus site workers, who  were asked a number of questions about their accident and ill health experiences. In order to probe a bit more on certain questions a booster survey of 500 construction workers was then undertaken in 2010. From a list of mechanisms around management and worker involvement suggested to respondents of which one or more might be present on site, response levels across the period were of the order of:

  1. Regular safety briefings / toolbox talks – 95%  
  2. A near miss reporting system – 86%  
  3. An employee H&S suggestion scheme – 51%  
  4. Workforce safety representatives – 49%
  5. non trades union, 8% TU  
  6. Safety committee – 33%  
  7. Incentive / reward scheme – 12%
access of fake CSCS cards
Unique smart cards and PDA’s or mobile phones can now record the toolbox talk event

The results above reflect how prevalent and important toolbox talks are to the safe running of construction sites in the modern era, with the vast majority of workers now expecting them to be undertaken to maintain high health and safety standards.

Mosaic has developed a sophisticated mobile feature that can capture daily briefings, toolbox talks, safety alerts and other site critical information and store it on-line. Both on-site members of the workforce and office staff can easily be catered for. Once the briefing is delivered, attendance is recorded by scanning their Smart Card on a mobile device which can then be viewed by management as a report at a later date.

Click here to read more about our toolbox talks product

snip_20161010124456 about us

Virtual reality looking to improve health and safety in the construction sector

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While architectural practices and design companies continue to explore the possibilities of virtual reality being incorporated into their design process, the construction and safety sectors might soon also be about to also embrace the area with a number of new products being developed.

At the CIOB and BRE industry event called ‘Accelerate to Innovate’ a number of the innovative ideas involving the use of Virtual Reality and construction were applauded by the judges. The event held showcased two products using this technology that will be able to help improve safety on construction sites as well as possibly help in the training of high risk situations.

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The first product allows wearers to conduct “real” physical tasks while fully immersed in virtual environments. It is based on relatively affordable hardware. The second product provides trainees and workers with “real-life” scenarios on high-risk jobs, as a more effective way of preparing them for work on site. Scenarios could be created to suit any situation the client wants e.g. testing the knowledge of the ‘slingers and signallers’, the role responsible for hooking up crane loads and communicating with the driver to move it safely.

These products potentially gives us a glimpse into the future of construction. It aims to improve on-site health and safety behaviour by delivering a virtual site experience based on actual project models using a headset and video game technology. Activities can be benchmarked and situations adapted to individual needs. By putting the “wearer” into the actual experience of witnessing potential site accidents, it is hoped that this will change behaviour compared to traditional training.

Mosaic Management Systems provides health and safety compliant site management software that offers you an online and flexible solution to on boarding, competency management, access control, asset management, stock control, fatigue management and toolbox talks.

Source: CIOB

To find out more about our range of products please click here

Costain Skanska JV wins £40m Paddington underground link contract – Mosaic goes along for the ride!

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Costain, the engineering solutions provider, in joint venture (JV) with Skanska UK, has won the contract to create an underground link between Paddington Station’s Crossrail and Bakerloo Line platforms for London Underground Limited (LUL). The contract is worth approximately £20m to the Costain Group.

The 125m-long tunnelled link will also incorporate two escalators and a lift and will alleviate congestion, whilst minimising the interchange time between Crossrail and Bakerloo Line.

The link is scheduled to be handed over in August 2018, and final completion in December 2018. A spokeswoman for Network Rail said the work will “significantly improve the station’s facilities and provide passengers with a better travelling experience”.

Costain and Skanska have utilised Mosaics core competency management systems once again on this project. Centrally controlled inductions where contractors book themselves onto the course is something in the offing for this innovative project. John Micciche MD of Mosaic “We are always happy to listen to the client’s desired specification and deliver bespoke solutions where possible.”

10 survey facts about onsite card checking and fraud

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The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) joined forces with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) to conduct an industry-wide survey aimed at assessing card scheme fraud and card checking procedures on UK construction sites in 2015. The use of fake cards in the construction industry had been brought  to our attention through the press by the National Crime Agency’s prosecution of an organised gang dealing in false identity documentation, which included a number of construction industry certification cards. 

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All workers on construction sites must hold the correct qualifications and training for the type of work they carry out. Increasingly so employers need to be confident that if they are shown a card it is legitimate and that the person showing it has the appropriate qualifications to be carrying out their job onsite. 1180 construction workers nationally were survey online about card checking methods and the prevalence of fake cards – the results were certainly interesting. Here is a precise of the results:

  1. 82% (4 out of 5 workers) hold a skill certification card
  2. The vast majority of those (92%) are Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), while a further 20% hold the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) as well.
  3. 44% (nearly one in two workers) said their cards were only checked the first time they went on site, while 19% said they were checked occasionally and 14% never.
  4. Only one on five workers (21%) face regular checks while on site.
  5. When cards were checked on site, for the most part it is to see the card has the right name and was in date. Only half of respondents stated that the card was checked to see if it was the right card and that the worker had the correct qualifications for the job.
  6. Most enforcers of card checks tend to either just use visual checks (19%), where the information is not recorded, or utilised a paper based system (69%).
  7. 6% use smart technology to ensure the access is valid, with a further 19% checking on an online database.
  8. A third of all the respondents were actualy responsible for checking cards, with 18% of this group saying they had come across fake cards. Both unskilled workers (10%) and skilled workers (10%) are the two main skill levels which construction workers have seen on fake cards.
  9. Most of these cards were detected due to the poor quality of reproduction or that the photo did not match up with the owner of the card at the time (51% and 49% respectively). 51% did not register online when checked, with a further 4% not showing up on the smart technology employed on site.
  10. Workers are more likely to hold the relevant card within the larger construction organisations, however on site it tends to be non-workers and visitors that are a group least checked.

CSCS Chief Executive Graham Wren said: “Unless people use consistent and accurate methods of checking cards to certificate workers’ training and qualifications, the schemes cannot fulfil the roles they were designed for.  The smart technology within CSCS cards is a simple and cost-effective way to do this, and we are keen to find out more about how it is being utilised on sites across the UK.”

Mosaic Management Systems is an IT partner with CSCS, and provides health and safety site management software that offers you an online and flexible solution to on boarding, competency management, access control, asset management, stock control, fatigue management and toolbox talks.

To contact us to consult further with one of our representatives about your onsite access and competency management issues click here.

Source: CITB/CSCS – Card Fraud and Onsite Card Checking Survey 2015

snip_20161010124456 about us

 

CSCS urge employers to check workforce cards the Smart way

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Following on from reports in the media last year outlining the dangers of construction card fraud, CSCS is continually trying to urge employers to carry out electronic card checks before allowing workers on site. Checking the card electronically has numerous benefits, but mainly ensures employers are confident that those working on site have the correct training and qualifications for the job.

CSCS Communications and Public Affairs Manager Alan O’Neile said: “CSCS believes that for construction sites to remain safe and productive all workers should have the correct qualifications and training for the type of work they carry out. This was one of CSCS’s primary objectives when introducing the electronic SmartCard in 2010. The CSCS SmartCard provides a simple and cost effective way to tackle fraud and verify that workers hold the correct qualifications and training before allowing them on site.”

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A survey conducted in 2015 confirmed many contractors and employers are still failing to take advantage of this technology, with many sites still using inefficient paper based systems or ineffective visual card inspections.

Alan O’Neile continued: “The technology embedded in a CSCS card is free to use and allows a site manager access to a wealth of information about each worker, including their qualifications. By simply placing the card in a reader or onto a compatible device such as a tablet or smartphone you can instantly check the cards validity and the qualifications held by the card holder.”

One contractor recently calculated that card checks using smart technology will save around 500 man working days per year and CSCS is working with several organisations to help them realise the full benefits of the technology. Once they realise the benefits then changing to a smart seems becomes apparent.

As a CSCS IT partner our system and smart card is fully compatible with CSCS’s new technologies. We certainly welcome and advocate a move towards smarter access and checking systems onsite, which in our opinion will ease the burden of site management by storing information centrally. Fake cards would not be omitted onto site with our Tally access system in place.

Mosaic Management Systems provides health and safety site management software that offers you an online and flexible solution to on boarding, competency management, access control, asset management, stock control, fatigue management and toolbox talks.

Source: CSCS Articlesnip_20161010124456 about us

Smart rugged phones for smart site management solutions

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The ‘rugged’ phone market, primarily targeting tradespeople,  is forecast to account for around 18 million handset sales from a global predicted overall figure of 1.5 billion in 2016. This segment still represents a sizable profit for handset producers and other entrants. To stretch their brand further Caterpillar and DeWalt have their own version on the market, alongside the likes of iPhone who have produced a tough case for trades people in this space.

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The BBC recently tested out the 4G-enabled Tuffphone 400, another popular brand, on a building site and found it could receive calls under water after several minutes of being submerged and survive a tumble around in a cement mixer full of sand. After these ordeals it could still make calls and get online after being dropped from scaffolding over 2m high. However they were advised by the retailer that it would not withstand “a direct blow from a hammer”.

Mosaic’s array of site solutions can either work off a PDA or a smart phone provided it is on the Android, iOS or Windows platform. Should your work phone have the facility for ‘Near Field Communication’ (NFC) or a camera incorporated then it will be able to read our smart card, barcodes and RFID tags used in conjunction with our applications. This means when you are out on site giving a Toolbox Talk simply use your own smart phone – but please make sure it is a rugged one to ensure it survives the rigours of site work!

Mosaic Management Systems provides health and safety compliant site management software that offers you an online and flexible solution to on boarding, competency management, access control, asset management, stock control, fatigue management and toolbox talks.

Source: BBC article

To find out more about our range of products please follow the link

Top tips for managing fatigue within the construction sector

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Construction work constantly involves high-risk activities and to work safely, workers need to be physically and mentally alert at all time. Therefore fatigue is a potential risk and one that must be recognised by employers. Both employers and employees have a responsibility to manage fatigue in the workplace.

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is a state of physical and/or mental exhaustion which reduces a person’s ability to perform work safely and effectively. Fatigue considerably reduces alertness and may lead to errors, which in turn could increase the likelihood of workplace incidents and injuries.

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There are multitude of things that can impact and cause fatigue, some of them interrelated other not. These include:

  • Work schedules – hours of work, night work and shift work (including breaks between shifts):

Long work hours, irregular work hours, and schedules that require night work can cause fatigue. These types of work patterns can limit the time for a person to physically and mentally recover. Night work can interrupt the natural sleeping rhythm, which in turn can cause fatigue.

  • Sleep disruption:

Everyone needs a certain amount of sleep to maintain alertness and perform to standard. Generally we all need between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep a night. The most beneficial sleep is deep, undisturbed and taken in a single continuous period. Should this be disrupted, fatigue may ensue.

  • Environmental conditions:

Climate extremes (such as working outside in winter), noise and handling vibrating tools place demands on workers and increase fatigue.

  • Physical and mental work demands:

Construction work is generally physically demanding which can increase fatigue. Mental demands can also increase fatigue, such as tasks that require long periods of intense concentration.

  • Emotional well-being:

Work events can be emotionally tiring and increase fatigue, such as regular criticism or the pressure to complete a task to a deadline. Non-work events can also cause distress and lead to fatigue – for example: when a person faces the loss of a loved one or tries to resolve personal conflicts.

Employers – responsibilities in managing fatigue

Employers have a duty of care to take all practicable steps to ensure employees are safe at work. Fatigue is more commonplace than you may thing and is certainly a workplace hazard that employers must manage. Various strategies are available for employers to reduce the risks of fatigue. These include:

Work schedules

  • Make sure your employees take regular, quality, rest breaks in their working day .Consider extra rest breaks if the work is demanding.
  • Make sure working hours are not too long. If longer working days are required, consider staggered start and finish times, and/or longer rest breaks and periods off work (and carefully monitor a worker’s ability to cope).
  • Schedule tasks suitably throughout a work period. A person’s ability to be alert or focus attention is not constant throughout the day. For most people, low points occur between 3.00am and 5.00am, and between 3.00pm and 5.00pm. Avoid giving out safety critical jobs during this period.
  • Negotiate with your employees if overtime is required. Monitor and place limits around overtime worked. Avoid incentives to work excessive hours.
  • Monitor and place limits around shift swapping and on-call duties. Mosaic will be able to help you here with its fatigue management software.

Sleep

  • Design work schedules well to allow for good sleep opportunity and recovery time between work days.
  • Make sure that schedules are designed to remove any sleep debt. This is due to sleep loss being cumulative.
  • Design rosters that minimise disruptions to natural sleeping rhythms. Avoid work starts before 6.00am where possible. If night work is required, limit the number of night shifts in a row that your employees can work.

Environmental conditions

  • Avoid working during periods of extreme temperature, or minimise exposure through job rotation.
  • Provide adequate facilities for rest breaks.

Physical and mental work demands

  • Limit periods of excessive mental or physical demands (ie through job rotation).
  • Ensure fit for purpose plant, machinery and equipment is used.
  • Make sure workloads are manageable. Take into account work flow changes due to factors such as machinery breakdowns, unplanned absences or resignations. Avoid impractical deadlines.

Emotional well-being

  • Where possible, be aware of personal circumstances that affect your employees and provide support.
  • Create a positive work environment where good relationships exist and workers are encouraged and supported.

Workplace fatigue policy

  • Develop a fatigue policy for all workers, managers and supervisors. This policy should include information about: maximum shift length and average weekly hours; work-related travel; procedures for reporting fatigue risks; procedures for managing fatigued workers.
  • Make sure anyone can report fatigue-related issues to both supervisors and management, and then improvements will follow.
  • Train your new employees on fatigue management.

Once these strategies are implemented, you should monitor and review them to ensure fatigue is managed effectively.

Mosaic has a Fatigue Management module which can bolt onto its system. When used in conjunction with access control systems, it will enter start and finish times. Using the available data, the system will instantly alert the management team by identifying any employees who are at risk of fatigue or have already breached certain controls, such as double shifting.

Please read more about this module by clicking here

snip_20161010124456 about usSource: Worksafe NZ

Emerging technologies assisting the construction industry

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According to a BBC article instead of the workforce in high-viz jackets and hard hats (PPE – Personal Protection Equipment), there will be drones buzzing overhead, robotic bulldozers and 3D printers producing all manner of new structures. That at least is the hope of those innovators creating new technological solutions. Firstly they have to get buy-in from the traditionally risk-averse construction industry that such change is beneficial.

Some construction companies are already using drones to survey sites and existing structures. Following the earthquake in Christchurch NZ some years ago, they now use a drone to survey the structure of the badly damaged cathedral, which they hope to rebuild.  Japanese construction machinery giant Komatsu has gone one step further – using the drones to provide the eyes for automated bulldozers. The drones send 3D models of a building site to a computer which then feeds the information to unmanned machinery to guide them.

One of the potential solutions to the housing crisis could also be 3D printing, which is already making an impact on the construction industry – cutting both the time and cost of building houses. The UN estimates that by 2030 approximately three billion people will require housing and has mooted 3D printing as one possible solution. A team in the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University, in the same town as our HQ, has been working on the technology since 2007, first developing a 3D concrete printer within a frame, but more recently with a robotic arm that can print up to 10 time quicker.

At the forefront of technology ourselves Mosaic Management Systems provides health and safety site management software that offers you an online and flexible solution to on boarding, competency management, access control, asset management, stock control, fatigue management and toolbox talks.

To find out more about the company please follow the link.