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Building towards safer site procedures during the pandemic

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As specialists in construction and manufacturing, many of our clients have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak – either by closures, interruption of work or even just widespread confusion. In a letter to the construction industry, the UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now confirmed that the sector is essential and should continue to operate under specific safety guidance.

In accordance with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice, the Construction Leadership Council has published a set of guidelines to help site managers continue in the safest way possible.

The Council’s advice can be broken down into three key points:

 

  1. Enforce social distancing on-site

First and foremost, all non-essential site visits should be stopped with immediate effect. When on site, all workers should maintain two-metre distances at all times, physical contact should be avoided and any activities requiring skin to skin contact must be halted.

To aid this, site managers can stagger the start and finish times of their team members, reducing on-site congestion and contact throughout the day. Social distancing should be observed not only while working, but also in the canteen, toilets and anywhere else that individuals could congregate.

 

  1. Improve hygiene facilities

Site managers should look into installing additional hand-washing facilities on-site, and making hand sanitiser available where this isn’t possible. Regular hand washing should be encouraged throughout the day, especially following direct contact or use of shared tools.

Similarly, tools and equipment should be cleaned and sterilised between uses – doing so can significantly decrease the risk of the virus spreading.

 

  1. Ensure safe waste disposal

Site managers should be vigilant in ensuring that waste is disposed of regularly and safely. This includes general waste, but also single-use PPE and other disposable equipment. Cleanliness standards should be increased, and closely regulated.

 

In the construction sector, as in wider society, safety must come first in the current climate – but it’s important to keep the industry moving. By following the guidance provided, site managers can enable construction to continue in the safest way possible and protect both employees and ongoing projects.

 

For more advice on ensuring safe operating procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak, use the following links to access relevant resources:

Exploring Product Innovation at UK Construction Week

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The Technical Marketing & PR team recently visited Birmingham’s NEC to attend UK Construction Week – the largest construction trade show in the UK, showcasing innovation from all sectors.

UK Construction Week included the Build Show, Timber Expo, HVAC, and many more interesting expos all under the construction umbrella. With over 650 exhibitors, it was interesting to see so many new and exciting products being introduced to market.

Some of our clients were exhibiting at UK Construction Week, including ROCKWOOL and SIG Performance Technology. ROCKWOOL embraced technology on its stand, providing a variety of interactive and immersive activities that allowed visitors to understand its products through augmented reality and physical experience. SIG Performance Technology utilised UK Construction Week as an opportunity to launch and promote a range of new products that have come to market from AIM and Euroform.

After working on product launch PRs for SIG Performance Technology and marketing content for ROCKWOOL, it was brilliant to get up close to the products and see the marketing materials we helped create at such an iconic event for the construction industry.

If you would like to see what ROCKWOOL and SIG Performance Technology had to offer, we were on hand with our camera equipment to showcase their stands and find out more about their new products.

 

Community is at the Heart

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Here at Technical Marketing & PR, we are passionate about the future of Wales’ development. For this reason, TMPR consultant, Louise Matthews, volunteers as a non-executive director on the board for Planning Aid Wales, where she brings 15 years of marketing and PR experience to bolster the organisation’s communication capabilities.

Planning Aid Wales is a charity that works towards creating effective community involvement in planning and building development. The organisation promotes and facilitates community engagement, to help all voices be heard in the planning of Wales’ future.

With an ever-growing population, there is a need for the development of more houses and community facilities in Wales, with TMPR believing that community is at the heart of creating effective development policies. Louise comments: “Planning Aid Wales advocates that communication between local councils and the public is essential. I am proud to bring my marketing and PR skills to the charity, as it provides a future vision that looks to maximise community welfare.”

Take a look at Planning Aid Wales’ website to find out more about its services or how you can volunteer to support the charity: http://www.planningaidwales.org.uk/