Construction Process - Social
The construction process is a vital stage at which the construction industry can prove its commitment to its workforce, and also interact well with the general public. Health and safety has the potential to be the most significant social and economic impact during construction. The Health and Safety Executive provides specialist resources for construction, and a partnership approach has been taken to form Working Well Together.
Improved communication is an important ingredient for success, both with the workforce and the surrounding community. Members of the workforce will be safer and more productive if they know what is going on, and know they can approach management with any concerns. Sometimes disturbance cannot be avoided, but informing local residents and businesses can lessen negative impact.
Use the Respect for People toolkits.
Recruiting and retaining talented people is the most urgent business challenge facing the construction industry. Change and improvements can only happen through people, and their efforts in the workplace. Through providing respect and the right conditions for its workforce, the construction industry will reap the benefits.
In response to the Construction Minister's challenge for the industry to radically improve its performance on people issues, Rethinking Construction established a working group to examine the issues associated with people in the industry. Arising from this work, the Respect for People Indicators allow organisations and projects to measure and compare their performance and identify and prioritise actions. Once the priority areas have been identified, the supporting toolkits facilitate more detailed evaluation and focus on actions for improvement.
The Woolgate Exchange in London (demonstration number 141) comprised the fitting out from shell and core to provide a new office for German Bank West LB. The project demonstrated that quality of worker facilities is important. Contractor Interior has all but abandoned the use of portacabins for fit-out team offices.
At Woolgate Exchange, the construction managers, consultants and contractors shared a modern open-plan office with IT and CAD systems, meeting and reception rooms. A high quality restaurant was provided for the construction workforce.
Creating the right environment is one thing, building good relationships is another. Interior encouraged an open-door policy and adult treatment of staff. Woolgate Exchange was compared to a similar project that did not use these innovations. The other project recorded 40% more worker inductions. High turnover of staff costs money and a disaffected workforce are more likely to have accidents and produce defects.
Register sites with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and use the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) was set up five years ago by the industry to improve construction's image. Through a voluntary code of practice, the Scheme is raising the standards of management beyond statutory requirements. The results on site for example are to minimise the disturbance or negative impact on neighbours, the general public and the environment. The Scheme has now registered 6,000 sites since inception and in the last year has registered £8bn of contract value, about 15% of total construction value. The Scheme expects registrations to rise to 25% of all construction value in two years.
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) aims to register every competent construction operative within the UK, thus driving out 'cowboy' builders. As well as reducing consumer confidence, substandard work costs time and money through defects, undermines health and safety standards, dissuades new recruits and drives out qualified workers. Personnel are awarded the card by proving their competence through a mandatory health and safety exam and qualifications or references from employers.The industry aims to have a fully qualified workforce in 2010. CSCS currently has over 500,000 members: more than 20% of the workforce. The industry as a whole and all clients will benefit from the Scheme.
Most people's perception of the construction industry is determined by their experiences with the domestic market. The government's Quality Mark scheme aims to improve the industry's performance and the general public's perception of it. The Quality Mark scheme complements CSCS by focusing on the domestic market, and following successful pilots, the initiative is set to roll out nationally. Just as CSCS is making its scheme available to an increasing number of trade sectors, Quality Mark's roll-out programme will establish a benchmark to enable trades people to deliver competently and proficiently. Consumers wanting to locate a reputable tradesman can do so through the Quality Mark website.
Lythe Hill Hotel (demonstration number 294) involved the construction of a new leisure complex on the site of an existing luxury hotel. CCS was specified, and the site certainly required a considerate approach from the contractors Benson Limited.
Care had to be taken due to the hotel remaining operational throughout the construction period, difficult site access, and a lake below the construction site. Benson normally use CCS and find it a valuable scheme.