Calls for effective carbon pricing as critical to enable capital allocation in line with net zero On Finance Day at COP26, abrdn announced its target to reduce the carbon intensity of its assets by 50% by 2030 vs a 2019 baseline1. abrdn has developed a climate change strategy focused on
– Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital platform technologies to be rolled out across approximately 55% of Derwent London’s portfolio – OpenBlue Enterprise Manager will help Derwent London and its occupiers understand energy consumption and move to a smart maintenance regime across their portfolio – Open Blue Central Utility Plant will use Artificial Intelligence & Machine
Dan Macey, Director/Owner of Holistic Housing Solutions Ltd, has been appointed as Chair of Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) to lead the strategy for positive change in the region’s construction industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge in both new build and refurbishment sectors, and six years’ experience on
Following the global focus on sustainability prompted by COP26, 300 public and private sector industry professionals recently came together to learn about how the built environment can do more and go further in their efforts towards net zero. Ed Reynolds, Midlands technical director at Willmott Dixon, reflects on the recent
Enerveo, previously known as SSE Contracting, is delighted to announce the appointment of Zak Houlahan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st December 2021, following the sad passing of former CEO Stuart Chaston in August. Zak has more than 15 years of extensive senior management experience in a range
It is not just homewares and electronics where Black Friday deals are to be found, new build homes developers are also offering special incentives this weekend at Burrington. Burrington Estates will give customers who reserve a new home at one of its South West developments over Black Friday weekend (26-29
In a bid to make up for the stunted celebrations of 2020, the opportunity to end this year in style could come in the form of securing a brand-new luxury home. Millwood Designer Homes is happy to provide a gift that isn’t just for Christmas, with a number of stunning
The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), share its expert heating and bathroom trends predictions for 2022 and beyond. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) begins with saying, “We are finding new appetite for heating solutions that provide homeowners with all the advantages of warmth and
In a sense, accidents in the construction industry are inevitable. All the safety standard improvements and preventative technologies in the world cannot completely eliminate human error from the equation, and so issues of this kind are a statistical certainty. However, with figures showing that on-site injuries and deaths are actually
Calls for effective carbon pricing as critical to enable capital allocation in line with net zero On Finance Day at COP26, abrdn announced its target to reduce the carbon intensity of its assets by 50% by 2030 vs a 2019 baseline1. abrdn has developed a climate change strategy focused on Net Zero Directed Investing (NZDI). This means moving towards the goal of net zero in the real world – not just in its portfolios. abrdn will seek to achieve this goal through a set of actions, including rigorous research into net zero trajectories, developing net zero-directed investment solutions and active ownership to influence corporates and policy makers. The goal will be delivered via three pillars of action: Decarbonisation: abrdn will track and reduce the carbon intensity of its portfolios. That means continuing to incorporate carbon analysis into the investment process and supporting credible transition leaders and climate solutions. Our equities, credit and quants investments already have the majority of assets with a carbon intensity below benchmark and our Real Estate business has committed to aligning their assets to net zero 2050 pathways. Providing net zero solutions: abrdn will increase the proportion of assets flowing into net zero-directed investing solutions. Around 30% of AUM is currently managed in line with net zero 2050. abrdn will aim to increase this by continuing to develop net zero solutions across all asset classes, actively engaging with clients as well as transitioning its fund range to support net zero goals. Active ownership: abrdn will continue to vote and engage with its investee companies to drive change and transition real assets. The team will engage with the highest financed emitters across equity and credit holdings seeking transparency on progress against clear transition milestones assessed against relevant standards – such as the Climate Action 100+ net zero benchmark. abrdn will divest from companies where, after two years, it considers insufficient progress has been made against the transition milestones set, unless it’s not in line with the client mandate. abrdn recognises that sustainable change starts with its own operations. That’s why we are also announcing our own ambitious target of net zero in our operations by 2040. Stephen Bird, CEO of abrdn said: “At abrdn we are acutely aware of our obligation to support the drive towards net zero. That’s why I’m pleased we can announce these climate commitments today – both for the investments we manage and our own operations – which build on those we made earlier in the year.” “But we must be very clear: simply moving our clients’ money out of high-carbon intensity stocks into greener options will not solve the world’s crisis. Decarbonising a portfolio is not the same as decarbonising an industry. To achieve that we need effective engagement with companies because more seismic change will come from backing credible transition firms on their path from high to low carbon intensity.” “And asset managers cannot operate in a vacuum. Bolder, collective action by governments is desperately needed. Effective incentives in the form of appropriate carbon pricing are absolutely critical to enable capital allocation in line with net zero and to create an investment environment which rewards companies and investors that go green. We also need a proper debate and action on the role of the tax system in the transition. Pricing carbon needs to be focused on changing behaviours, and ensuring a just transition, on a national and global scale.” This new pledge builds on the commitments abrdn announced earlier this year. 1 Assets initially in scope are Equities, Credit, Active Quants, Real Estate and selected Multi-Asset strategies. More detail on our baseline and implementation approach will be published in a separate target setting paper. abrdn is committed to this decarbonisation path on the expectation that climate policy will strengthen globally and will review its commitments on a regular basis to reflect policy developments and client commitments.
– Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital platform technologies to be rolled out across approximately 55% of Derwent London’s portfolio – OpenBlue Enterprise Manager will help Derwent London and its occupiers understand energy consumption and move to a smart maintenance regime across their portfolio – Open Blue Central Utility Plant will use Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning to automatically reduce utility cost and increase uptime in the Central Plant Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced that its OpenBlue digital platform technologies will be rolled out across Derwent London’s portfolio. This rollout will drive the digital transformation of Derwent London’s estate, enabling new possibilities for operational efficiency, occupant experiences and sustainability in one dynamic solution. After a successful pilot at its White Collar Factory building, Derwent London is adopting a suite of Johnson Controls OpenBlue technologies – including OpenBlue Enterprise Manager and OpenBlue Central Utility Plant optimisation – across 22 of its buildings in London. This represents approximately 55% of its total estate by area and includes Derwent London’s net zero carbon development The Featherstone Building. OpenBlue Enterprise Manager is a comprehensive suite of applications from Johnson Controls designed to monitor and improve energy efficiency, tenant satisfaction, asset performance, maintenance operations, space performance and ultimately the comfort of all occupants. Enterprise Manager delivers the next generation of intelligent building capabilities. The system uses cloud-based AI and advanced analytics to deliver a complete holistic view of energy consumption, energy efficiency improvements, equipment faults and resource breakdowns by building, floor and tenant. Overall, Johnson Controls OpenBlue solutions will enable Derwent London to deliver high value ROI-driven business cases. OpenBlue Central Utility Plant is responsible for the efficient and effective management of the biggest consumer of a building’s energy – the Central Plant. Using AI and Machine Learning, the software constantly adjusts and optimises thousands of variables every 15 minutes, significantly reducing baseline energy load, while keeping occupants comfortable. Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital platform and services for optimising buildings are capable of driving significant improvements in energy efficiency and corresponding carbon emissions. “We’re pleased to partner with Derwent London by implementing our OpenBlue solutions to deliver smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, all underpinned through cutting edge technology,” said Mike Ellis, chief customer & digital officer at Johnson Controls. “The challenges of COVID-19 and the drive to get ahead of climate change have made us all rethink both the spaces we occupy and the wider environment around us. Across our built environment digital solutions are rising to the fore as a tangible means of making our infrastructure more sustainable and future-fit while helping us get more from the spaces we interact with every day. Our OpenBlue solution represents an exciting technology ecosystem with huge potential to help map out new capabilities for both spaces and places as we look to build the world of tomorrow today. Now more than ever, as we lean into technology to take smart from a concept to reality, we have an incredible opportunity to set a new standard in buildings that puts power in the hands of those who occupy them.” “After a very successful pilot, it made sense to expand the use of Johnson Controls’ innovative technologies across more of our buildings,” said Nigel George, Executive Director at Derwent London. “The ability to analyse and understand energy and building performance data across our portfolio brings many benefits. Johnson Controls’ technologies will enable our property managers and occupiers to monitor and report on the steps we’re all making to operate buildings more sustainably. We look forward to this relationship strengthening further as we move to becoming a net zero carbon business by 2030.”
Dan Macey, Director/Owner of Holistic Housing Solutions Ltd, has been appointed as Chair of Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) to lead the strategy for positive change in the region’s construction industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge in both new build and refurbishment sectors, and six years’ experience on the CESW board, Dan will work with the board and CESW partners to create and drive strategy that will positively shape the future of the industry in the South West. Dan, who takes over the role from the previous Chair Andrew Goodenough, said: “Construction faces challenges around safety and hitting net zero carbon targets and we must come together collaboratively to find the solution.” “I’m incredibly excited to step up to the challenge as the new Chair and continue the excellent work Andrew has done for the last two years to drive best practice in the industry and engage with all areas of the supply chain to support value over cost. Andrew Carpenter, CEO of Constructing Excellence South West (CESW), said of the appointment: “Dan’s passion for collaborative working made the board’s decision unanimous. It’s also a reward for his longevity of service, having been on the board for six years, and he’s also the first non-client to have the Chair, so it’s a unique appointment too. “We are looking forward to working with Dan to lead and support the sector in a period of major opportunity and allow the region to achieve its full potential.” CESW is a cross-sector, cross-supply chain member-led organisation charged with driving the change agenda in construction. For more information, visit https://constructingexcellencesw.org.uk/ or call 01225 256002.
Following the global focus on sustainability prompted by COP26, 300 public and private sector industry professionals recently came together to learn about how the built environment can do more and go further in their efforts towards net zero. Ed Reynolds, Midlands technical director at Willmott Dixon, reflects on the recent ‘Net Zero – What’s Stopping Us?’ panel event hosted in Birmingham and how the spirit of collaboration was felt more than ever. “Collaboration and transparency. If there were two words I heard over and over again during our debate, it was those. “It felt like times of old once again, with colleagues, customers and fellow industry professionals all gathered together with a shared interest to discuss. Events such as this offer a timely reminder of what can be achieved when we take the time to catch up with one another properly, instead of via Zoom or Teams, which we have all become reliant on over the past two years. “Bringing everyone together to discuss such a hot topic post-COP26 meant we saw over 300 people and from various organisations and walks of life – local councils, designers and consultants, students, universities, tech companies, LEPs and more. It was heartening to see the sector united in their efforts to drive forward sustainable practices and push for industry action in tackling the climate emergency. “It was my pleasure to open the event on behalf of Willmott Dixon and introduce our knowledgeable and insightful panellists, including our very own Julia Barrett; Deborah Cadman OBE, chief executive of Birmingham City Council; Belinda Morgan from Cundall; Tim Carey, chief product director at Collida; James Douglas from Lendlease, and Chris Clarke from Scape. “Together, the expert panellists pointed out opportunities for growth and shared visions for the future, whilst sparking meaningful conversations and drawing on their breadth of cross-sector experience. “Our sustainability strategy Now or Never, sets out our key priorities in three parts to take us to 2030: Brilliant Buildings, Building Lives and Better Planet. As a business we know that all three are important to align our customers, supply chain and the wider community in meaningful ways. But we also know that each of these three areas take investment, a commitment to continuous learning and development, and a determination to engage, collaborate and innovate to drive sustainability above all other interests. “Judging from the atmosphere in the room, and the conversations that have followed, the event has already had a significant impact, and I look forward to working closely with our industry on the topic again.” Challenging behaviours “One of the underpinning themes throughout the debate was the pace at which we need to change attitudes towards sustainability in the sector. To prevent the ‘race to the bottom’ on price, contract selection must be geared more towards sustainability. “Deborah gave her views, insisting that Birmingham Council would “turn investment and development away if it’s not done with good intent and with low carbon in mind.” “James, representing Lendlease, agreed: “We must report our performance and share our progress. I don’t want to see carbon become commercial, we’re all on the same journey. We are going to turn down investment and development opportunities if they don’t have low carbon in mind. We will simply say this is not the place for you.” “Julia also challenged panellists on the performance gap – or, in her words, “how long are we going to be building buildings that don’t do what they say on the tin?” “To ensure effective designs are robustly delivered on-site, it was agreed that more needs to be done in terms of legislation and holding businesses to account over sustainable standards – though believed the ‘carrot over the stick’ approach would be more effective to set targets and encourage greater collaboration. This is something I wholeheartedly believe in myself. “Belinda, speaking on behalf of engineering consultancy Cundall, emphasised that “early engagement is the key to collaboration” – and provided an example of where they had been appointed on a contract following a behavioural workshop to determine the team’s efficiency and said that fees came secondary. Belinda said the scheme was highly successful and believed that lessons could be applied from the experience. Cundall became carbon neutral last year.” We’re not moving quickly enough “There were also discussions about how many retrofits to buildings is now required, all of which could have been avoided had available energy-efficient methods been implemented at the time of construction. “To echo this, Deborah said that it is “almost criminal” for gas boilers to be installed in new homes in the next five years. Deborah was also “not convinced that innovation, research and development is where it needs to be. The industry needs to work with higher education institutions to fix this.’ “A section of the discussion focused on ‘whole life value’, and Julia explained how “we’re going to see the decarbonisation of the grid by 2035, which is when we will see embodied carbon take over.” “James believes that “it’s the biggest challenge to the construction sector. There is no legislation in place to drive forward lower embodied carbon and very little reporting. Leading private sector organisations are tackling this independently, but I believe there needs to be policy and intervention.” “Whilst positive strides from government have been made in recent years, I think that the allocation of funding to meet sustainability targets has been a cause of concern. “Julia pointed out that that the Code for Sustainable Homes existed in 2006 but was scrapped in 2016. She said that if the UK had stuck with it, every house being built today would be net zero carbon – and reiterated messages from her recent webinar series, shared as a podcast here. “Tim explained that Collida was established because they knew the construction industry needed to change. He said: “We know that we need to accelerate our rate of modernisation, embrace aspects such as the Construction Playbook and offsite manufacturing. We want to operate with integrity, so we chose
Enerveo, previously known as SSE Contracting, is delighted to announce the appointment of Zak Houlahan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st December 2021, following the sad passing of former CEO Stuart Chaston in August. Zak has more than 15 years of extensive senior management experience in a range of industries, including Waste Management, Aviation Infrastructure and most latterly in Local Government Contracts as National Business Director – Environmental Services at Amey. Announcing Zak’s appointment Neil Kirkby, Enerveo Executive Chair, said “I am thrilled to welcome Zak into Enerveo. Zak’s track record in business transformation, customer engagement and value generation will be a great fit with the Enerveo team. I know Zak is excited to build on the successes of the business and develop our business further, with a focus on further enhancing our employee experience, customer services and driving the Enerveo business to industry “best in class”. Reflecting on his appointment, Zak Houlahan said “Enerveo is a fantastic business, with a deep talent pool and strong customer base, so I am delighted to be joining the team. The industry is entering a new era of growth, predominatly led by the drive for carbon zero and renewed focus on infrastructure. Enerveo’s standing in the industry places the team in an excellent position to support our existing customers and gain new partnership opportunities in the market. My goal, with the team’s support, is to lead Enerveo to even greater things.”
It is not just homewares and electronics where Black Friday deals are to be found, new build homes developers are also offering special incentives this weekend at Burrington. Burrington Estates will give customers who reserve a new home at one of its South West developments over Black Friday weekend (26-29 November) a Fortnum & Mason hamper worth £250, as well as a £10,000 saving on select homes*. Exeter-based Burrington Estates has made its mark across the South West with a strong track record in building homes of distinction in excellent locations. The Black Friday offer is open to purchasers reserving a home at several of Burrington’s developments across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset including Upbury Grange in Yetminster, Highwood Gardens in Tiverton, The Heaths in Illogan, Home Farm in Exeter and Stowford Mill in Ivybridge. Not only will they be able to secure their dream home but receiving the added treat of the indulgent ‘Burlington Hamper’ from Fortnum & Mason will make that decision even sweeter. Purchasers at Upbury Grange, Highwood Gardens, The Heaths and Stowford Mill will also benefit from a £10,000 reduction on the purchase price. “We are pleased to offer purchasers a little extra this Black Friday weekend when they reserve their new home. These gorgeous Fortnum & Mason hampers will get everyone in the festive mood and as Christmas can be an expensive time of year, we are also offering buyers a saving of £10,000 on select plots. We would love to see any prospective house-hunters in our show homes and sales suites this weekend – please get in touch to find out more about what could be your new home,” said Natalie Tucker, Sales & Marketing Director for the South West region. Every one of Burrington Estates’ developments is individually conceived to complement its setting, combining high quality interiors and stylish architecture designed to suit the lifestyles of a wide range of buyers. Stowford Mill offers a choice of contemporary homes on the edge of Dartmoor, transforming the heritage of Ivybridge’s historic former mill site into a vibrant new community. Only a few houses still remain for sale at the family-friendly Upbury Grange, set around a central village green and surrounded by the picturesque Dorset countryside. And at The Heaths close to the North Cornwall coastline, the stylish open plan homes offer single floor living providing an outstanding choice for those considering rightsizing or retirement.
In a bid to make up for the stunted celebrations of 2020, the opportunity to end this year in style could come in the form of securing a brand-new luxury home. Millwood Designer Homes is happy to provide a gift that isn’t just for Christmas, with a number of stunning properties available to reserve in time for Christmas. By reserving one of these highly sought-after homes, 2022 could prove to be the start of an exciting new adventure. Aiming to provide buyers with a fantastic end to the year and the perfect start to 2022, a selection of Millwood’s properties across Sussex and Surrey are available to reserve in time for Christmas. Three examples of a luxury home ready to buy in time for the festive season are Hollyhock Cottage at Cherry Tree Lane – a three-bedroom semi-detached property nestled in the picturesque Surrey village of Ewhurst -, Bell Flower Cottage, a two-bedroom property also at Cherry Tree Lane and The Warnham, a four-bedroom semi-detached home located at Lillybank, in the historic East Sussex town of Battle. “Both Cherry Tree Lane and Lillybank have proved very popular to homebuyers this year, with many looking to move into areas that perfectly balance urban and rural living. Sussex and Surrey are two of the most highly regarded areas in the South of England, and house-hunters have a fantastic opportunity to treat themselves this Christmas and reserve one of these spectacular homes, ready to move into next year. For many, Christmas 2020 was one to forget, but by cementing one of these stunning new homes, Christmas 2021 could be one that new homeowners will remember forever,” said Philip Brown, Sales and Marketing Director at Millwood Designer Homes. Hollyhock Cottage is a charming three-bedroom semi-detached luxury home at Cherry Tree Lane in Ewhurst. The landscaped front garden with feature planting mirrors the serene Surrey setting, and the open-plan living/dining area provides families the perfect environment to entertain others during future festivities. The spacious kitchen/breakfast room comes equipped with a comprehensive range of wall and floor cabinets with laminate worktops, and comes with fully integrated appliances including a double oven with grill, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer and a dishwasher. The property also enjoys a garage, ideal to store the family vehicle. This wonderful home is priced at £597,500 and is perfectly placed in an ideal location that fuses the convenience of city links with the luxury of living in the countryside. Also available at Cherry Tree Lane is Bell Flower Cottage, a two-bedroom semi-detached luxury home priced at £422,500. Offering the perfect first home or a downsizer’s retreat, the stylish property is benefits from a fully open-plan downstairs, with the kitchen/dining/living room all rolled into one. The kitchen hosts a number of integrated appliances including a double oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer and fridge/freezer. Upstairs, the master bedroom enjoys a luxurious en suite bathroom and fitted wardrobe, whilst a spacious family bathroom and second bedroom complete the first floor. Exteriorly, the landscaped rear garden offers space for the homeowners to make the most of time spent outside. At Lillybank in Battle, East Sussex, Millwood has recently released a number of four-bedroom properties available to purchase off-plan now. Offering the perfect abode for families looking for a fresh start in 2022, The Warnham is a four-bedroom semi-detached property set across three floors and priced at £545,000. Ideal for multi-generational living with plenty of space for all the family, the ground floor enjoys an open-plan dining/kitchen area with a number of integrated appliances including an induction hob, double oven, dishwasher and fridge/freezer. On the first floor is the cosy living room with French doors leading out onto the rear garden. The second bedroom with an en-suite is also located on this floor, along with the third bedroom and a separate family bathroom. The second floor is dedicated to the plush master bedroom – which comes complete with an en suite and and walk-in wardrobe, alongside an adaptable fourth bedroom, offering the perfect place to set up a remote working space. The property also enjoys a number of beneficial additions, including a utility room, cloakroom and a car port to store the family vehicle.
The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), share its expert heating and bathroom trends predictions for 2022 and beyond. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) begins with saying, “We are finding new appetite for heating solutions that provide homeowners with all the advantages of warmth and style without the environmental impact and so this needs to be factored in to the overall ‘design picture’ from the outset. I believe this new desire has stemmed from the abundance of sustainable materials now available, for instance, aluminium heating designs which are now being considered as an eco-luxe choice for the modern bathroom. Given its water efficiency, flexible installation and lightweight material, aluminium is a great example of a sustainable material which can be endlessly recycled as an end product = designer radiators and towel warmers!” So what else is predicted to shake-up the heating trends market in 2022? Steve explains: Lifestyle heating: When looking ahead to 2022, it will be a case of ‘anything goes’ as many of us now have more confidence to take charge when updating our homes and so selecting the right heating design will be critical when designing in line with specific lifestyle preferences. We are now in an era where you really can ‘be your own home stylist’ and meet your every need. With this in mind, robust materials and finishes on the darker spectrum like anthracite and black, will be just as desirable as vintage metallics and timeless white finishes as we move into next year. In addition, hidden heating trends solutions which are designed as singular floating bars that can also come together in a range of styles and formations, are on the rise in the modern bathroom. With property experts indicating that house prices will continue to rise in 2022, personalisation in interiors is going to be fundamental moving forwards. Creative products like single bar heating will therefore answer demand from homeowners who appreciate traditional craftsmanship, coupled with the latest technology. Added value: The 2022 home is about adding value where there is none, offering easy living and high comfort that is both beautiful and practical. In light of this, en-suite bathrooms and cloakrooms continue to be a popular way to enhance convenience and add value to your home and research proves that over three quarters of home buyers are likely to offer more money for a house if these are on offer. It therefore makes sense to consider the virtues of wall-hung heating solutions next year, whether looking to upgrade an existing model or working on a new bathroom project, it is the extra features that will elevate the space. Foldaway heated shelves, integrated robe hooks, optional towel bars and even a built-in aroma oil dish so you can bring your favourite scents to the bathroom, are just some of the added-value features your radiator or towel warmer can benefit from so make sure to ask what extras are available: as standard and made to order. Eco-design compliant: As energy prices rise, so too does market demand for heating solutions that can give homeowners all the advantages of warmth and style, whilst being kind to the pocket and environment. As a result, ‘doing the right thing’ has now become an essential part of the design and manufacturing process and to answer demand, you can now choose from a range of green heating solutions that will become a market mainstay moving forwards. Be it material or a specific eco design element, products which are environmentally compliant are set to make a name for themselves next year with no signs of abating.
In a sense, accidents in the construction industry are inevitable. All the safety standard improvements and preventative technologies in the world cannot completely eliminate human error from the equation, and so issues of this kind are a statistical certainty. However, with figures showing that on-site injuries and deaths are actually growing in some contexts, it is clear that outright negligence still has a part to play in perpetuating the problem of construction accidents. So let’s investigate this conundrum more closely, explore the avoidability of costly construction mistakes and look at what precautions can be taken to turn the tide in favor of business owners and workers alike. Types of accident to take onboard When it comes to the kinds of conundrums that workers typically encounter on-site, construction accident lawyers are kept busy by personal injury claims arising from third party negligence, product liability caused by defects in equipment and materials, and wrongful death. The types of accidents which are most frequently reported are falls from height by the workers themselves, injuries suffered as a result of heavy objects falling from above, tripping over debris and equipment left in an inconvenient place, collisions between vehicles and the aforementioned equipment defects. Claims can also be made as a result of long term side-effects of working in construction, such as if employees are not provided with adequate ear protection and thus suffer hearing damage. However, claims from construction accidents aren’t only due to the injuries suffered by the employees. One may also file a wrongful death claim if a loved one dies in a particularly catastrophic incident. In that case, a surviving family member may enlist the assistance of a dedicated lawyer who specializes in handling wrongful death claims to protect their rights and ensure a more favorable outcome. The debate around avoidability In the introduction, we argued that construction accidents are inevitable, but the point to be taken away is that they are still possible to avoid in most instances. As such, businesses and individuals need to do all they can to protect themselves and others from the financial and human cost of workplace hazards in this industry. It is better to preempt the likelihood of accidents occurring rather than paying out compensation afterwards to make up for deficiencies. For example, giving workers the right protective clothing and equipment to do the jobs they are assigned and stay safe on-site will mean that even if things go wrong, the chances of serious injuries occurring will be lessened. However, in the unfortunate event that an accident does occur, seeking advice from a construction accident lawyer can ensure proper legal steps are taken. There is a reason that head, ear and eye protection are all used widely in this industry. Likewise you not only need to give workers the gear to operate safely, but also put policies in place to ensure protective equipment is used universally and in a way that aligns with the designer’s intent. Creating a culture of on-site safety has to come from the top down, so don’t get complacent about following PPE rules as this sets a bad example for others. In addition to these points above, overseers must do their part to promote worksite safety. These include steps like: By keeping these tips in mind, you can keep your workers safe and reduce the likelihood of fatal incidents. The other aspects of negligence Another often overlooked yet crucial preventative measure that can make all sorts of construction accidents avoidable is equipment maintenance. Well-maintained machinery, tools and vehicles will operate in line with expectations. Those that are left to fall into disrepair will expose the users and those around them to unnecessary hazards. Furthermore, well maintained gear will last for longer and thus be a better value proposition, rather than needing to be replaced. So once again it is a financial advantage for construction firms to take safety seriously, as well as a moral and legal obligation. Otherwise, they’ll face serious consequences, such as legal liabilities, financial losses, and grave damage to their reputation. Final thoughts The fallout of serious workplace accidents in construction can be hard to quantify, and for businesses the costs can continue for years as a result of the damage done to your brand reputation. Responsible employers have to be attuned to the safety implications of the workplace, and while not all construction accidents can be avoided, most should be if you plan ahead.
