Construction materials giant Breedon has slashed the amount of time it spends on tachograph administration by 1,300 hours a year – thanks to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution. With 450 HGVs operating across more than 300 sites, the group provides asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and surfacing solutions within the
Complete Technology Group is the latest company to be awarded Champion status by Building a Safer Future, positioning them as a leader in the industry as they actively commit to a journey of continuous improvement in building safety leadership and culture. The firm, that works with landlords responsible for multi-dwelling
Turtle Defib Cabinets – an innovative manufacturer of defibrillator and bleed control cabinets, bleed control kits and supplier of medical equipment – is recommending people who work in the construction industry to learn the location of their nearest defibrillator and bleed control kit this World Day for Safety and Health
Mobile access control integration makes entry to The Light Bulb building effortless for customers Smart Spaces announces today that it has partnered with trusted identity provider, HID, to make access to Workspace’s The Light Bulb building in South West London fast, simple and secure by making door access credentials available
Following The London Declaration to combat climate change through standards, ISO has published an amendment to many of its existing and new management systems standards. The changes emphasise the importance of addressing the effects of climate change within the framework of management systems standards. BM TRADA, a leading UKAS-accredited independent
New research by signage specialists, FASTSIGNS UK, has revealed fire and rescue services in England have, on average, received just 30 percent of high-rise building plans and 21 percent of external wall plans, required under the UK Government’s updated fire safety regulations. The updated regulation, Fire Safety (England) Regulation 2022,
Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the world-leading event for the environmental services industry, has announced the launch of a webinar aimed LONDON at addressing critical skills shortages in the environmental sector. With demand currently outstripping supply, the online event entitled ‘ESS 2050: Green Skills’ will focus on how employers
WJ Group has shown its continued commitment to reducing carbon in infrastructure by gaining PAS 2080 certification with the British Standards Institute (BSI). With more than 30% of UK greenhouse gas emissions being attributed to the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure assets, PAS 2080 certification recognises businesses that have
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has crowned the winner of its Fall Prevention Trophy following a virtual event this week that saw three shortlisted companies go head-to-head for the industry accolade. L’Oréal Pune, based in India, were awarded the top trophy following a vote by event
In a move set to redefine excellence within the building services engineering industry, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) proudly introduces the CIBSE Chartered Organisation Programme. This innovative initiative marks a significant step towards shaping the future of the profession and fostering a culture of unparalleled standards. At
Construction materials giant Breedon has slashed the amount of time it spends on tachograph administration by 1,300 hours a year – thanks to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution. With 450 HGVs operating across more than 300 sites, the group provides asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and surfacing solutions within the UK and Ireland. Webfleet’s Tachoshare Plus has helped Breedon re-coup the admin time by facilitating automatic daily remote downloads of both driver and vehicle tachograph data. Drivers and transport managers no longer need to travel to depots to complete vehicle downloads, saving them valuable time and maximising productivity by keeping the trucks on the road. Truck-specific navigation is also saving time and boosting driver safety. “With Webfleet’s HGV routing, we can set much more accurate routes avoiding low bridges, weight restrictions and narrow lanes,” said Sarah Scothern, General Manager, Transport & Logistics at Breedon Group plc. “It also means we can give more accurate pricing estimates for delivery jobs.” With MANTIS camera integration on most trucks, the transport team can now access video evidence remotely, immediately after incidents, using the same Webfleet interface. “Far from being a Big Brother intrusion, the in-cab technology means we can support our drivers better,” explained Sarah. “With Webfleet and the multi-camera system, we can see the full picture, confirming, for example, that a driver was braking sharply to avoid a car cutting in, rather than driving dangerously.” Matt Vass, Director of Channel and Product Marketing at Mantis added: “Imagine the peace of mind for Breedon knowing they can swiftly access critical footage without sifting through endless hours of recordings. With our advanced camera technology seamlessly integrated into Webfleet, moments like sudden braking trigger automatic uploads, ensuring Breedon can react promptly. “Additionally, they have the power to stream or download any footage directly from any camera memory system, free from traditional constraints. This streamlined process enables Breedon to swiftly obtain video evidence, so decisive action can be taken when required.” The company is analysing Webfleet data to identify incidents and event hot spots – and to gain insights into the root cause of problems. The investment has resulted in a significant insurance premium rebate in recognition of lower anticipated accident rates. Breedon has also set its sights on improving driver behaviour, leveraging Webfleet’s OptiDrive 360 driver feedback and reporting. “As well as setting challenging KPIs, we’re planning to introduce a driver of the year and most improved driver award, to help keep drivers incentivised to drive more safely and efficiently,” said Sarah. “In addition, we’re planning to integrate around 800 owner-drivers into the system, so wherever you work in the business, everyone will be measured against the same benchmark.” Webfleet’s powerful reporting suite will be integral to the company’s aim to achieve the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Silver accreditation by the end of this year and net zero carbon emissions by 2038. “Our large fleet presents a significant opportunity for CO2 savings and is a key focus of our sustainability strategy,” said Sarah. “With Webfleet’s certified CO2 report, we can now accurately measure our CO2 emissions, confirming not just how much our vehicles are emitting, but also why and where.” Breedon uses Fleetcare for 100 HGV vehicles transporting cement, combining Bridgestone’s best-in-class tyre range and tyre management solutions with Webfleet fleet management. Drawing upon connected tyre and vehicle data and reporting, Fleetcare provides smarter and more predictive maintenance solutions for the company, helping to reduce its total cost of fleet ownership. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Complete Technology Group is the latest company to be awarded Champion status by Building a Safer Future, positioning them as a leader in the industry as they actively commit to a journey of continuous improvement in building safety leadership and culture. The firm, that works with landlords responsible for multi-dwelling units to help deliver digital infrastructure, successfully completed the two Champion assessment modules and in return has received detailed insight and external validation regarding their existing building safety processes, as well as a wealth of actionable data and practical tools to assist them in making improvements. Steve Elliott, Non-Executive Chair of Building a Safer Future, commented: “Complete Technology Group deserves many congratulations for achieving BSF Champion status. Their successful completion of the assessment is commendable, and we strongly urge other organisations working in the built environment industry to take inspiration from their example and register for the process.” Chris McLain, CEO of Complete Technology Group, commented: “CTG is not only committed to meeting industry standards but exceeding them and we’re delighted to continue our building safety journey with BSF Champion status. The process requires us to open ourselves up to scrutiny, uncovering any blind spots in our approach to building safety. So, to successfully complete the second stage – and become the only telecoms firm to do so – is testimony to our people and our culture. We’re improving safety and quality of fibre installations in blocks of flats through our robust audit and adherence to Golden Thread principles. We’ve followed an incredibly detailed and independent review across our entities to achieve BSF Champion status, giving landlords, residents and telcos confidence in our governance and the quality of what we do.” Building a Safer Future (BSF) is a non-profit organisation committed to raising standards in building safety and supporting required culture change in the built environment industry. Companies can apply to participate in the BSF Champions programme by visiting the Building a Safer Future website on www.buildingasaferfuture.org.uk and completing the application form**, or alternatively they can email alexander.caller@buildingasaferfuture.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals *Organisations that have achieved Building a Safer Future Champion status include:
Turtle Defib Cabinets – an innovative manufacturer of defibrillator and bleed control cabinets, bleed control kits and supplier of medical equipment – is recommending people who work in the construction industry to learn the location of their nearest defibrillator and bleed control kit this World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April 2024). Action needs to be taken in less than five minutes in the event of a serious bleed injury or cardiac arrest. Therefore, being confident of where equipment can be found is a sensible ‘just in case’ strategy that can mean the difference between life and death. Somewhat shockingly, there is still no legislation in the UK for businesses to install Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in their premises. Nevertheless, Turtle also urges any person finding a lack of lifesaving medical equipment nearby office to question their health and safety departments and petition for a higher level of team care. There is also an opportunity for businesses to contribute to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Targets while keeping their employees safe; installing an external locked cabinet is an important resource for the local community. Photo caption: Representatives from GMI Construction, The Daniel Baird Foundation and Birmingham Council outside a construction project in Birmingham where GMI Construction installed a publicly accessible bleed control cabinet For every minute that passes without defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by seven to 10 per cent, with survival being unlikely after ten minutes. There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year according to the British Heart Foundation and the survival rate is less than 1 in 10. Considering the incidence of cardiac arrests and the critical time scale in which a person requires defibrillation to survive, Turtle maintains that Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) should be available in all places where ambulance response could exceed five minutes. The time taken to retrieve the equipment must also be factored in, meaning many construction sites should ensure multiple defibs are accessible. A person suffering a catastrophic injury can bleed out and die in as little as three minutes. 135 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2022/23¹ and there were 60,645 employee non-fatal injuries reported by employers in 2022/23 (RIDDOR)²; of which 32 per cent were slips trips and falls, 11 per cent involved a person being struck by a moving object and both falls from height and acts of violence were recorded at 8 per cent. The risk of a person suffering a bleed injury in one of these scenarios is high so health and safety departments should ensure they have Ambulance Service designed and approved bleed control kits in premises and on-site vehicles – accessible within a minute or two at the most. Furthermore, the Office for National Statistics revealed in January 2024³ that knife crime has surged by 5 per cent in the past year so projects located in hot spot town and city centres have an opportunity to safeguard their staff and the public by possessing a bleed control kit. And – as with any publicly accessible and registered defibrillator – a 999 operator will direct a caller to the nearest public bleed control kit if required, meaning an externally installed bleed control cabinet is beneficial for the whole community 24-7. GMI Construction has implemented this strategy in city centres. Mike Dowson, Founder and MD or Turtle Defib Cabinets, said: “We never think the worst will happen, but the figures are sobering; 30,000 people experience cardiac arrest each year, 60,645 employees were injured at work last year and there were 48,716 knife-enabled crime offences in the year to September 2023. Then you look at the action and survival statistics and it’s clear that defibs and bleed control kits must be within reach in just a couple of minutes – the chance of survival after cardiac arrest decreases by seven to 10 per cent every minute without defibrillation and a person can bleed out in as little as three minutes.” “This World Day for Safety and Health at Work, I’d like to urge everyone on site or in an office to know exactly where to find their nearest defib and bleed control kit. If the lifesaving medical equipment can’t be accessed and brought back to their location quickly, I suggest they speak to their health and safety department; with a commitment from businesses to own the equipment and from employees to know the location, then I’m certain more lives can be saved.” People should always call 999 in the case of a medical emergency and the Ambulance Service will direct the caller to a defib cabinet or bleed control cabinet if there is one nearby. Turtle works closely with The Daniel Baird Foundation and £5 from every bleed control kit and £10 from every cabinet is donated to the non-profit. For more information about Turtle’s defib cabinets, bleed control cabinets and the equipment to place inside, please visit www.turtledefibcabinets.co.uk, or follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mobile access control integration makes entry to The Light Bulb building effortless for customers Smart Spaces announces today that it has partnered with trusted identity provider, HID, to make access to Workspace’s The Light Bulb building in South West London fast, simple and secure by making door access credentials available in Google Wallet for all SME customers who lease offices and studios at the centre. Today, any registered Android smartphone user can gain quick and seamless access to The Light Bulb by holding their device near any NFC-enabled HID Signo reader, with doors then opening automatically. Smart Spaces is the first HID Technology Partner to carry out such a Google Wallet integration project, with Workspace the first customer in the world to benefit from this innovative technical collaboration. A FTSE 250 company, Workspace owns and manages 4.6 million sq. ft. of flexible office space across 76 locations in London – home to some of the Capital’s brightest young companies who rent and design their own space and join a vibrant community of other businesses. Chris Boultwood, Workspace’s Head of Technology, says, “Our customers are agile, ambitious SMEs who are digitally savvy, and we know how much they appreciate having ease of access to the building with just their phones. We’re always looking to make their experience as seamless as possible and the HID/Google Wallet door access is a natural step forward at The Light Bulb. We’re now excited to start rolling this out across other London locations.” Smart Spaces’ OS is used by Workspace’s customers to not only access the building, but to book meeting rooms and receive information about events and activities happening onsite, with the software branded MyWorkspace. Unlike issuing traditional plastic RFID access cards, shifting to digital offers self-service plus the seamless provisioning of credentials, making it far easier for all concerned – Workspace’s customers as well as onsite facility management staff. “This partnership highlights our commitment to providing a wider range of secure and convenient mobile experiences for workspaces for all types of end users– from SMEs to larger enterprises. As we diversify and expand our mobile solutions portfolio globally, stay tuned to see more Google Wallet integrations in the coming year,” Sanjit Bardhan, HID’s Vice President & Head of Global Mobile Business. Smart Spaces’ goal is to be the world’s leading smart building operating system for commercial real estate. Winners of the Santander Technology Business of the Year in 2023, a raft of prestigious projects in the UK now use its software which has put London centre stage of global smart building implementations. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ Chief Executive Officer, says, “At Smart Spaces, we continuously strive to provide the best possible user experience for our customers. The ‘tap and go’ functionality and convenience offered by Google Wallet provides this seamlessly. We’re delighted we’re the first to offer this to our customers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following The London Declaration to combat climate change through standards, ISO has published an amendment to many of its existing and new management systems standards. The changes emphasise the importance of addressing the effects of climate change within the framework of management systems standards. BM TRADA, a leading UKAS-accredited independent management systems certification provider, highlights that the changes are presented as additional text within the organisational context in clauses 4.1 and 4.2 of the management system concerned. The new requirement specifies that organisations shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue and whether relevant interested parties have requirements related to climate change. If found to be a relevant issue, climate change needs to be considered in the development and implementation of the organisation’s management system. The climate change amendment applies to all Type A ISO management system standards, i.e. those that specify requirements and to which companies can be certified. This includes the following standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and ISO 27001. ISO has added two key changes within clause 4 of all management system standards. The additional wording is as follows: Lee Horlock, Head of Technical & Approvals – Management Systems at BM TRADA, said: “We welcome the amendments being made to the ISO management system standards. Climate change considerations will now be placed at the front and centre of organisations minds when determining factors which influence the organisation’s purpose, objectives and sustainability. “For organisations currently undergoing the certification process or already hold an ISO management system certification, our experts are on hand to guide you through these new amendments.” BM TRADA, part of the Element Materials Technology group, emphasises that the overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged. These clauses already include the need for the organisations to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system, and these new inclusions are assuring that climate change is considered within the management system. The certification provider also mentions that the standards themselves have not been revised so organisations do not need to purchase new standards. ISO has released the changes as amendments titled ISO 14001:2015/Amd 1:2024 and ISO 45001:2018/Amd 1:2024 which can be obtained free of charge from the ISO website. Lee said: “BM TRADA clients who already have a management system certified to an ISO standard will already be conducting this type of contextual analysis and many will already be determining how climate change affects their businesses. “We stress that our clients already holding an ISO management system certification, will not need any additional audit or a new certificate issued. For those who have yet to do so, climate change must now always be a topic that is considered in your analysis and if found relevant be part of your management system. Going forward your BM TRADA auditor will include the above new requirements in future audit activities when assessing these parts of the management system.” For more about BM TRADA and its management systems certifications, please visit www.bmtrada.com/certification-services/management-systems-certification Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research by signage specialists, FASTSIGNS UK, has revealed fire and rescue services in England have, on average, received just 30 percent of high-rise building plans and 21 percent of external wall plans, required under the UK Government’s updated fire safety regulations. The updated regulation, Fire Safety (England) Regulation 2022, which came into play on 23 January 2023, made it a legal requirement for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings of 7 storeys or more to provide local fire and rescue services with appropriate safety information, including up-to-date building and external wall plans. The research sheds light on the percentage of building plans and external wall plans submitted by qualifying high-rises across England since the introduction of the regulation, using data from a series of Freedom of Information Requests (FOI) made to 18 fire services – compared against data for the number of high-rises each service serves. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has the highest percentage of submissions for both criteria received, with 88 percent of up-to-date building plans submitted and 88 percent of up-to-date wall plans submitted. Only Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service has received more for building plans, comparably though, no external wall plans were received. Nottingham Fire & Rescue Service received only 6 percent of building plans and just 4 percent of external wall plans for high-rises in its area. The regulation was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in July 2017, where on-site emergency response teams reported that navigating such a complex residential building, without clear directional signage, prevented them from carrying out their duties safely. Consequently, a recommendation was made that signage, building and external wall plans in multi-occupied high-rise residential buildings should now be a legal requirement. Using the information, fire services would be able to plan an effective response in case of an emergency in the future, while also enabling residents to exit following clear, signposted instructions. The breakdown of county-specific findings includes: Fire and Safety Service % of those who have submitted external wall plans % of those who have submitted building plans Essex County Fire & Rescue Service 0% 27% Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service 0% 13% Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service 0% 100% Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service 0% 9% Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service 4% 6% Surrey Fire & Rescue Service 10% 0% Kent Fire & Rescue Service 12% 18% Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service 13% 11% Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service 14% 6% Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service 15% 8% Norfolk Fire Service 17% 55% Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service 17% 25% Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service 20% 9% Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service 24% 18% Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade 40% 59% Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service 53% 47% Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service 56% 52% Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service 88% 88% National Average 21% 31% John Davies, managing director of FASTSIGNS UK, added: “No matter what the industry, health and safety signage is fundamental in minimising risks and supporting people’s wellbeing as well as being crucial in the event of an emergency. “With certified safety and directional signage, both residents and response teams will be able to clearly navigate high-rise buildings when an incident occurs. We work closely with our customers around England so that any buildings that fall under this criteria meet these new requirements.” For more information on FASTSIGNS UK, visit: www.fastsigns.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the world-leading event for the environmental services industry, has announced the launch of a webinar aimed LONDON at addressing critical skills shortages in the environmental sector. With demand currently outstripping supply, the online event entitled ‘ESS 2050: Green Skills’ will focus on how employers can bridge the gap in green jobs across the nation. Taking place on Friday 26 April from 12:00-14:00, the webinar will feature presentations and discussions on government initiatives, apprenticeship schemes, regional differences, and collaborations between UK universities and the industry. It will also offer businesses practical steps to train the next generation, strategies to make the sector more attractive to the younger generations, and collaborative solutions to address green skills shortages. The webinar will be co-hosted by Groundwork, the official charity partner of ESS Expo, and chaired by Adam Read, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer of SUEZ and member of the Green Jobs Delivery Group. Joining the session will be leading industry voices Melissa Vogeley, Team Leader – Green Jobs & Skills for Net Zero at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Aashya Zina, Department for Education, providing an update on the Green Jobs Delivery Group. Sally Hayns, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) will address Barriers to Nature-based Green Jobs, while Beth Whittaker, Chief Human Resources Officer of Veolia Northern Europe Zone, will deliver a case study on Future Talent to Deliver GreenUp. The former will look at overcoming certain challenges to support the expansion of a committed, engaged workforce, while the latter will explore future talent including graduates, apprentices, and internships, as well as green skills planning for future roles and over 50s talent. Venetia Knight, Head of Employment and Enterprise at charity, Groundwork, will present on Increasing the Attractiveness of Sector to young people, followed by a joint session from Dr. Aris Alexoulis, Senior Lecturer in Mechatronics at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Dr Steve Jones, Connected Curriculum Lead at Siemens, on the Connected Curriculum: How Academia and Industry can Collaborate on Education. The Siemens Connected Curriculum is a collaborative partnership that equips member universities with an extensive portfolio of technology learning materials and real-world industrial case studies covering all aspects of the product lifecycle. Commenting on the webinar, Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, said: “We are excited to be launching the first in our new series of webinars. ESS 2050: Green Skills is a unique opportunity for operators, local authorities, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and stakeholders from education and development to engage in a conversation crucial for shaping the future of the environmental workforce. We have already received a remarkable amount of interest in this opportunity and are looking forward to sharing the debate with all those involved in the sector on 26 April.” To sign up to join the ESS 2050: Green Skills webinar on Friday 26th April, visit the website here.To register your interest to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC Birmingham, visit the website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WJ Group has shown its continued commitment to reducing carbon in infrastructure by gaining PAS 2080 certification with the British Standards Institute (BSI). With more than 30% of UK greenhouse gas emissions being attributed to the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure assets, PAS 2080 certification recognises businesses that have to come together to deliver low carbon infrastructure projects and reduce their environmental impacts. To achieve PAS 2080 status, WJ Group demonstrated to the auditors that it had made considerable progress in reducing its carbon emissions and have a systems-based approach to being a greener link in the supply chain. This included promoting industry collaboration as well as reviewing its products and service methodology. During the accreditation process, the business demonstrated their ability to work within a PAS 2080 community delivering lower carbon infrastructure. Paul Aldridge, Sustainability Director at WJ Group said: “Receiving PAS 2080 certification is independent recognition of our significant and ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact while collaborating on the vital projects on the highways network. For many years, we have worked to reduce our carbon footprint through our products and delivery methods to become part of the solution. We believe we have had some success in this area, but our sustainability efforts will not end here – this is just the start.” The announcement follows WJ Group’s recent success at the Green World Awards where it was given a gold level award for the carbon reducing impact of its driver behaviour scheme. In the first year of the initiative, the business saw a 7.75% reduction in emissions as well as a 12% increase in Miles Per Gallon. WJ Group has been working actively on reducing its carbon footprint since the early 2000s when it started recording and monitoring its energy usage, gaining Carbon Trust accreditation in 2015. Since then, the business has made significant advances including eliminating 20,000 tonnes of embedded carbon a year by reviewing the materials, wastage, and transportation of its thermoplastic road marking products. Alongside this, WJ Group has made considerable effort to upskill employees across all areas of the business on their Green Skills, helping them understand their individual impact on the Group’s efforts to decarbonise. These steps will mean that WJ Group can achieve its Net Zero targets. With sustainability being a significant priority for clients, designers, contractors, and suppliers alike, securing certifications such as PAS 2080 demonstrates WJ’s ability to play a positive role in the delivery of low carbon infrastructure projects. Paul continued: “Currently, over 80% of our company cars and vans are hybrid or electric and our aim is eventually to have a fully zero emissions fleet of delivery vehicles. By doing this, all our projects in the future will be completed without the impact of fossil fuels. Alongside this, we are signatories of the Science Based Target Initiative, helping to achieve net zero by adopting an integrated systems-based approach. This is done using internationally recognised and independently audited standards including ISO 14064, SBTI, PAS 2080, ISO 14067, PAS 2050 and ISO 14040 to give our stakeholders confidence we are serious partners in change and the just transition to net zero.” For more information on WJ Group’s sustainability work, please visit: https://www.wj.uk/sustainability/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has crowned the winner of its Fall Prevention Trophy following a virtual event this week that saw three shortlisted companies go head-to-head for the industry accolade. L’Oréal Pune, based in India, were awarded the top trophy following a vote by event attendees, comprised of award winners from the RoSPA 2024 awards scheme. The other two shortlisted companies were support services company Compass Group Healthcare sector, and engineering firm Jacobs Field Services – who were both commended. RoSPA’s Fall Prevention Trophy seeks to draw on best practice and showcase innovation around fall prevention, both by selecting a high-performer as the overall trophy winner, and also sharing advice and learning on the subject with the wider awards community as part of the selection process. L’Oréal Pune’s three-step initiative saw a communication campaign that saw all its workforce take RoSPA’s Fall Fighter course, the formation of an exemplary risk assessment strategy and the successful implementation of L’Oréal’s Safe@Work-Safe@Home programme. The programme, which seeks to take the lessons learned from occupational health and safety into homes and communities, was rolled out to over 2,500 people on the Pune area, including orphanages and assisted living centres. L’oreal Pune’s main objectives included site surveys of old age homes and identification of STF improvement opportunities, inspections by in-house tech experts and a steady commitment to the Fall Fighters programme. This holistic approach was especially for combatting the high rate of slips, trips and falls (STP) within the over 65 age bracket, whereby Pune factory workers pledged themselves “Fall Fighters” (a RoSPA-developed slips, trips and falls-prevention course). Mayur Raut, Head of EHS and Facilities at L’Oréal – Pune Factory, said: “We are incredibly proud to have won RoSPA’s Fall Prevention Trophy and commend the other shortlisted organisations. At L’Oréal, “people” are at the heart of everything we do, and by talking about safety at home and passing on effective solutions we learn at work to a wider community is a great way to reduce the chance of accidents. With fall prevention in particular, our initiatives have helped reach thousands of people and equip them with the necessary knowledge and awareness to live more safely – and we are grateful that our actions have been acknowledged internationally.” Faiza Patel, Assistant Manager (EHSF) at L’Oréal – Pune Factory, said: “I thank the leadership at L’Oréal for ensuring we grow stronger together, rallying towards one vision of making workplace and community safer and discovering innovative ways to do it while adhering to nonnegotiable health and safety standards. We are always determined to challenge the status quo and demonstrate that “CARE” can be done differently. This recognition by RoSPA is a testament to our approach in ensuring everyone feels safe and valued as employees, families, partners and stakeholders.” Barry Oliver, Group Executive for Health & Safety at Berkeley Group Holdings Plc, said: “At Berkeley Group we are committed to providing the best possible health and safety for our staff, supply chain and customers, so we are delighted to see this dedication to care echoed within L’oreal’s Pune plant, and beyond its factory’s walls. We were particularly impressed to see the high level of inspiring collaboration and teamwork, where teams of Fall Fighters responsibly showcased health and safety procedures among their friends, families and other societal groups, creating a great ripple effect among the surrounding community.” Matt Cryer, Head of Awards, said: “This year, the shortlisting for the 2024 RoSPA Fall Prevention Trophy saw a wide range of exceptional approaches, initiatives and innovations being delivered by RoSPA Award entrants and this variety was reflected in our shortlisted candidates. “Congratulations to our overall 2024 winner L’Oréal Pune for their outstanding presentation and to those who took part in the webinar and contributed to the voting process and to Compass Group Healthcare Sector and engineering firm, Jacobs Field Services Limited, who also showed exceptional dedication to fall prevention.” Also present at the virtual event was Jules Robinson, RoSPA’s Fall Prevention Lead and former winner of the trophy in her previous role at housing provider, Trent & Dove. Jules said: “L’Oreal Pune have done a fantastic job of showcasing the impact that fall prevention training has inside and outside of the workplace. Using Fall Fighter training, staff learned how to protect family, friends and their wider community from the serious consequences of falls, the second leading cause of accidental death globally. “By sharing their lived experience and the impact of falls on their loved ones, employees were better able to relate to the risks and motivated take action with their new knowledge to help those most vulnerable.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In a move set to redefine excellence within the building services engineering industry, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) proudly introduces the CIBSE Chartered Organisation Programme. This innovative initiative marks a significant step towards shaping the future of the profession and fostering a culture of unparalleled standards. At its core, the CIBSE Chartered Organisation Programme represents a commitment to professionalism and excellence. It offers organisations a unique pathway to not only demonstrate their dedication to best practices but also to achieve the prestigious status of being chartered with CIBSE. Far beyond a mere certification, this program symbolises exceptional standards, embodying professionalism in its truest sense. Designed to facilitate the demonstration of competence within organisations, the programme provides a robust framework for showcasing levels of competency, professionalism and adherence to the highest standards. By participating in this initiative, organisations can differentiate themselves in terms of quality, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an ever-evolving legislative landscape. Speaking on the occasion, Adrian Catchpole, CIBSE’s President, emphasised the significance of this groundbreaking initiative. He stated, “Under the overarching theme of my presidential address ‘Taking a Lead,’ the CIBSE Chartered Organisation Programme aligns perfectly with our focus on competency, a crucial aspect of the Building Safety Act. Drawing inspiration from successful programmes in other professional bodies, we have tailored this initiative to meet the unique needs of our industry.” Inclusivity lies at the heart of this initiative, with CIBSE ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from the programme. Extensive market research, involving consultations with organisations ranging from one-person consultancies to tier-one multidisciplinary firms, has been instrumental in crafting a programme that caters to every organisation’s journey towards excellence. The launch of the CIBSE Chartered Organisation Programme marks a significant milestone in CIBSE’s ongoing commitment to advancing excellence within the industry. With its comprehensive framework and unwavering dedication to professionalism, this programme is poised to set new benchmarks and elevate standards within the building services engineering profession. More information about the CIBSE Chartered Organisations programme can be found at https://www.cibse.org/membership-registration/company-partnerships/cibse-chartered-organisations Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
