Health & Safety News

An unexpected flare from a gas gun caused a roofer to stumble and fall, suffering multiple fractures in his legs.

With National Apprenticeship Week running from 5 to 11 February, it is important to remember that today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s workforce and business owners. Sarah Meek, managing director at Mates in Mind, says it is vital to arm apprentices with not only technical skills but also the ability to spot, and talk about, the signs of poor mental wellbeing in themselves and others.

New figures indicate that along with depression and anxiety, stress now accounts for almost half (49%) of all cases of work-related ill health. Alex Minett, head of global new markets at Veriforce CHAS, considers how organisations can recognise and tackle workplace stress.

Neglecting mental health awareness in construction can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, substance abuse, and, tragically, suicide. Will Temperley, Fortis Foundations, explores how to recognise signs, provide support, and create a healthier work environment.

As a sharp decline in temperatures marks the early days of 2024, here are some of the key considerations you must make when working in snow or cold conditions.

A variety of charities and helplines are available for those struggling with mental health, or construction managers seeking resources to better support their team.

As Blue Monday approaches, Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director of Seddon and trustee of Mates in Mind, brings attention to the underestimated challenges encountered by construction workers during the winter season.

By harnessing the power of IoT and automation, alongside the use of low power sensory devices and powerful network connectivity, monitoring the water outlet and sentinel temperatures within the pipes of water systems can be streamlined, offering benefits for health and safety, compliance and the bottom line. Gareth Mitchell, UK partner manager, Heliot, and Richard Braid, managing director, Cistermiser explain.

Nationwide Platforms, a powered access services and training provider, has been fined after a father-of-two was crushed to death in 2021.

Newport City Council was fined after Stephen Bell was killed during road repair works in 2019.

Australia has decided to ban engineered stone, a popular material used in bathroom and kitchen countertops, to prevent exposure to fine silica dust.

Operations lead at Southern Construction Framework, Kingsley Clarke, examines how the construction industry is using technology to challenge the mental health crisis.

As a company which entered the UK as the Victorian era was coming to an end, SFS has a considerable wealth of accumulated expertise in cladding systems as well as fixings, putting the company in an unrivalled position to help innovate and educate industry professionals in crucial subjects such as safety.

Roofing company Mitie Tilley Roofing Limited has been fined £881,000 after two workers were seriously injured during two separate incidents.

A high court judge has ruled that the developer, Michigan Construction, must demolish a six-storey building in Kettering due to serious concerns about building work.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging the Government to reconsider reductions in funding for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to stop falls from height.

With research from NFU Mutual showing almost nine in 10 tradespeople have been victims of construction theft, the insurer is offering advice on how to improve their security on-site.

Knuzden St Oswald's Church of England Primary Academy in Lancashire has become the next school to be affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

Parts of Scunthorpe General Hospital have been shut down following the discovery of dangerous RAAC concrete across the site.

Bellway made the defects disclosure in its 2023 year results this morning, saying there was an 'isolated design issue' with the building's reinforced concrete frame.