Southern Construction Framework (SCF) has released a new report detailing the top construction site safety interventions
Data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors to work in.
In their latest Health & Safety Annual Report, SCF has revealed the top construction site interventions to mitigate fatalities and injuries in the sector.
Impact of the CLOCS Standard
SFC pioneered the Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS) standard – a national standard aimed at fleet operators, contractors, clients, and regulators to ensure optimal safety in the sector for construction vehicle journeys.
CLOCS is rarely mandated by planning authorities outside of London, meaning uptake has been slow. However, SFC has been instrumental over the last two years in helping the scheme spread countrywide and will develop its CLOCS-related activity during SCF 5.
Andy Brooke, CLOCS programme director, said: “A couple of years ago, far too many contractors said they couldn’t make CLOCS work outside London without clients helping make it happen.
“The SCF Health & Safety Forum showed great leadership by driving collective commitment and collaborative action by all large contractors on its framework, with the two local authorities (Hampshire and Devon) driving the framework.
“Every contractor is visibly committed and performing at much higher levels than ever before, working together to ensure the safest, greenest, and leanest construction vehicle journeys through our communities.”
What interventions are improving construction site safety?
SFC started collecting data from contractors in 2021 to determine what construction site safety interventions are being utilised in an effort to share best practices and develop a preventative approach.
The report identified that contractors have rolled out more than 30 different safety interventions since 2021.
For example, in 2022, Wilmott Dixon organised virtual reality (VR) training for its forum members around working at heights. Subsequent data showed that following the training, incidents decreased by 43% over 12 months.
Michelle Gonnella, senior health, safety & environmental manager for SCF contractor Wilmott Dixon, commented: “Since 2020, Wilmott Dixon has come a long way with our average CLOCS inspection score now being 88%, with over 60 inspections being carried out in 2022.
“In 2022 alone, we trained 30 managers to understand CLOCS and 117 gatekeepers to our internal ‘Site Access Traffic Marshall’ training. We are now proud to say we are CLOCS champions.”
Additionally, BAM Construction has trialled using robots to install heavy windows and glass panels. The company now mandates robotic lifting across all sites for loads over 50kg, helping to reduce the risk of injuries.
