worker fatigue

Spotlight on… worker fatigue aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks associated with fatigue and provides the industry with guidance for addressing this issue…

‘Spotlight on… worker fatigue’ aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks associated with fatigue and provides the industry with guidance for addressing this issue.

Worker fatigue is an often overlooked workplace hazard in the construction industry. This is despite the fact that fatigue is a serious health and safety risk in construction, as it has the potential to severely impact an operative’s physical and cognitive capacities. The inability to respond and react promptly can be detrimental on a construction site, leading to errors and near misses, injuries and even fatalities. It is important then that the construction industry recognises the dangers associated with fatigue, its causes and how to prevent it.

What is worker fatigue?

Fatigue is more than simply feeling tired, it is an overwhelming and ongoing state of mental and/or physical exhaustion. Construction workers are at a much greater risk of fatigue due to the nature of the working conditions, shift patterns and types of labour involved in the industry. Therefore, it is imperative that fatigue is addressed like any other workplace hazard through risk assessment and management.

The following statistics identify the severity of fatigue in the UK:

Sleep deprivation costs the UK around £40 billion every year.
More than one third of the UK gets less than six hours sleep every night.
If everyone in the UK had between 6-7 hours sleep every night, this could add around £24 billion to the economy.
In the UK, 1 in 5 visits to the GP are related to tiredness and fatigue.
Fatigue costs the UK between £115 and £240 million per year in workplace accidents alone.
UK employees work the longest hours in Europe, but are significantly less productive.
Over 50% of UK employees have experienced burnout at work.
Almost two thirds of UK employees claim tiredness affects their productivity at work.
86% of UK employees feel unable to speak with their line manager about how tiredness impacts their performance at work.

More specifically, worker fatigue is a huge concern for the construction industry:

The UK construction industry has one of the highest rates of psychosocial health problems, including fatigue and burnout.
The UK construction industry ranks third for the highest average hours worked per week.
Over 80% of construction workers in the UK are not getting enough sleep.
Only 14% of construction workers in the UK work fewer than 40 hours a week.
44% of construction workers in the UK travel around 2-3 hours a day to work and back.
Long working hours have been identified as the most significant contributor to poor mental health within the UK construction industry.

Worker fatigue in construction

The inherent nature of the construction industry can increase the risk of fatigue. Common causes of fatigue in construction include long working hours, consecutive shifts, irregular working schedules, night work, early starts, demanding workloads, challenging working conditions and inadequate breaks. These factors can prove draining and can intensify feelings of fatigue and exhaustion.

Construction workers operate in an environment where they are challenged both mentally and physically. Construction work entails the regular use of heavy equipment and machinery as well as hazards which can be physically demanding, while the repetitive and monotonous nature of certain tasks requires focus and concentration which can also exacerbate fatigue. Such labour is often performed in harsh working conditions, including extreme temperatures, excessive noise and vibration and poor visibility, all of which can provoke fatigue.

Operating whilst fatigued is a serious health and safety risk and can be as dangerous as working under the influence of drugs and alcohol. In fact, being awake for around 17 hours stimulates impairment equivalent to exceeding the drink drive limit. Such impairment includes slower reactions, lapses in judgement, reduced concentration and coordination, an underestimation of risk and diminished cognitive ability. In an industry fraught with safety hazards and high risk activities, it is vital that operatives are mentally and physically alert at all times.

Fatigue is not only detrimental to the health and safety of the workforce, but to the prosperity of business. Fatigue can lead to poor work performance, reduced productivity, slower progress and delays. Tackling fatigue not only improves health and safety, but is financially beneficial, by reducing absenteeism and presenteeism, decreasing lost-time incidents, reducing the risk of accidents, and improving workplace efficiency.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme

The Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice states that all registered sites, companies and suppliers are expected to provide a supportive and caring working environment. The Checklist used by the Scheme Monitors asks the following questions: ‘Does the site encourage attitudes and behaviours that enhance safety performance?’, ‘Does the site care for the health and wellbeing of the workforce?’ and ‘How is the health and wellbeing of the workforce assessed and addressed?’

To support this learning toolkit, the Scheme surveyed over 1000 construction industry professionals to gauge attitudes on the topic of worker fatigue. Key findings include:

75% of respondents think that worker fatigue is a problem within the construction industry.
73% think that it is an overlooked hazard and 65% do not think the industry is doing enough to prevent it.
49% work on average between 40-50 hours per week, whilst 37% work more than 50.
When asked what the main causes of worker fatigue were: 34% said working hours, 20% said workload whilst on shift, and 18% said early starts.
54% sometimes feel overburdened at work, whilst 30% frequently do.
Only 5% have a thorough understanding of the regulations surrounding fatigue and 50% claimed to have little understanding.
18% do not feel that they could speak to site management if they were feeling fatigued.
When asked what the industry could do to prevent worker fatigue: the majority of respondents suggested a restriction on working hours.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Amanda Long said:

“Our workforce is at the centre of the success of our industry and, as the industry survey clearly shows, we must do more to improve standards to tackle the issue of worker fatigue.

“The Scheme is at the centre of raising awareness and spreading best practice across the entire industry and I would encourage everyone to read the learning toolkit and utilise the resources available within it.

“Thank you to all organisations which have contributed so far, and we look forward to continuing to grow the Best Practice Hub’s suite of resources on this critical subject to help to continue to raise standards across our industry.”

It is evident that there is still more work to do if the industry is to tackle the issue of worker fatigue. The following sections showcase examples of best practice and in-depth case studies, while the resources section brings together organisations that are addressing the issue of fatigue in the construction industry.

Law and legislation

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Law and legislation

Worker fatigue is often included within the larger topic of workplace health and safety. The following legislation establishes policies and regulations which have been put in place to prevent worker fatigue.

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External resources

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External resources

There are a number of resources available to help the construction industry address the issue of worker fatigue.

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Examples of best practice

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Examples of best practice

The Scheme aims to improve the image of construction through sharing examples of best practice with the industry. Below are a number of examples of best practice that have been witnessed by our Scheme Monitors on their visits, or that have been submitted directly to the Hub by registered sites, companies, and suppliers.

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Case studies

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Case studies

The Scheme collaborated with a variety of contractors which are leading the way in tackling worker fatigue to produce case studies outlining their approaches to this issue.

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What can you do?

Despite the health and safety risks associated with fatigue, it is often an underestimated workplace hazard in construction. It is crucial that the construction industry takes responsibility for managing, controlling and most importantly, preventing worker fatigue.

Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)

Site management should implement a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) to control fatigue. Having a formal procedure in place to manage fatigue is important considering construction work involves high risk activities, including hazardous work, working at height and operating heavy machinery and equipment. It is important to manage fatigue like any other workplace hazard through risk assessment and risk management.

Using a FRMS draws together protective and preventative measures to manage the risks posed by fatigue and to prevent fatigue-related errors from developing into more serious accidents and injuries.

The stages of a FRMS should include:

Assess the level of fatigue risk associated with shift patterns by collecting information on employee’s working hours and working schedules. This involves conducting a risk assessment that takes into account the hazards associated with fatigue.
Identify factors which may contribute to fatigue and establish how likely worker fatigue is and the potential risks of working while fatigued.
Control measures should be implemented to reduce fatigue, such controls might include shorter shifts, fewer consecutive shifts, additional breaks and reduced workloads.
Regularly review and assess the adequacy of control measures in reducing fatigue and to establish how effective these measures are in preventing fatigue.

Monitor workloads

“Project completion overtakes the welfare of the workforce and contractors working on projects.”

– Anonymous response to the Scheme survey

One of the most effective ways to minimise fatigue is to ensure that operatives are not in the position of working to the point of exhaustion. The management of workloads is important in making sure that workers do not become overburdened or fatigued.

To prevent the onset of fatigue, site management should:

Avoid overloading operatives with too much work or place unrealistic expectations on the completion of tasks and deadlines. Stringent deadlines can compel operatives to work overtime or to overburden themselves with work, reducing productivity and increasing the risk of errors, accidents and injuries.
Schedule appropriate workloads according to the duration and intensity of the shift. When work is particularly demanding, consider reducing the duration of the shift to prevent fatigue.
Vary each operative’s tasks and activities to avoid extended periods of physically demanding, highly focused or repetitive work.
Avoid scheduling demanding, dangerous or monotonous tasks during the night, early morning or towards the end of long shifts. These times of the day are when people feel the most tired.
Provide working environments that have good lighting and visibility. Uncomfortable temperatures and excessive noise and vibration can increase the risk of fatigue.
Provide operatives with equipment which reduces physical strain and manual labour, such as exoskeletons and electric wheelbarrows.

In addition to managing workloads, site management should recognise the impact of commuting to work and back. Often, operatives will travel a number of hours to work and back, provoking the onset of fatigue. Site management should monitor their employee’s commutes and adjust working hours and the intensity of workloads if an operative has a long commute.

Driver fatigue

“I believe the main cause of fatigue is the travelling to and from jobs. Roads and public transport are now so busy people are getting up earlier and earlier just to get to work on time.”

– Anonymous response to the Scheme survey

Driver fatigue is a serious issue which results in thousands of severe injuries, deaths and accidents on UK roads. In fact, research has found that 1 in 6 crashes resulting in death or injury are fatigue-related. Many construction workers are at risk of being too exhausted to drive. It is important that site management ensures operatives are safe when they are behind the wheel.

To mitigate driver fatigue, site management should:

Ensure operatives get enough sleep before driving and encourage workers to take a break at least every 2 hours while driving.
Make sure operatives are aware of the early warning signs and symptoms of driver fatigue.
Adjust working hours and workloads to take into account the amount of time spent commuting to and from work.
Educate workers on the importance of getting sufficient rest before getting behind the wheel.
Be mindful of operatives who routinely travel long distances as they will be susceptible to fatigue.

Control working hours

“I have worked night shifts in a previous contract which led to some of my decision making being affected and meaning I was not the best I could be due to worker fatigue. Not every person can do irregular shift patterns. I don’t believe this is considered in the workplace.”

– Anonymous response to the Scheme survey

Site management should be mindful of the impact certain working hours can have on operatives. This includes early starts, night work, overtime, long working hours and consecutive shifts. These shift patterns can increase the risk of fatigue and limit the time an operative has to physically and mentally recover.

To avoid provoking worker fatigue, site management should:

Avoid scheduling shifts that do not allow for at least 12 hours rest and try to ensure that shift patterns provide a continuous 7-8 hours sleep in each 24 hours, and at least 50 hours in every 7 days.
Avoid scheduling shifts which are longer than 8 hours. Long working hours can provoke fatigue and reduce the time available for leisure, sleep and relaxation. In fact, research has found that working for 12 hours increases the risk of injury by 25-30%.
Avoid planning early starts and night work where possible as these shifts give operatives considerably less time to sleep and recover, causing fatigue.
If it is unavoidable to adjust shift patterns, monitor and record the hours each operative has worked to prevent fatigue and to ensure no operative is working excessive hours.
If overtime is necessary, plan for this in advance so operatives can schedule in time for rest, recovery and leisure.

Breaks and rest periods

Site management should allow operatives to have regular breaks. Frequent, short breaks can reduce the risk of fatigue, improve productivity and performance, and enhance concentration, all of which can significantly reduce the risk of errors, accidents and injuries.

To improve productivity in the workplace, site management should:

Consider allowing additional breaks if there are signs of fatigue amongst the workforce. Cognitively and physically demanding tasks will require more frequent breaks than less demanding activities.
Provide adequate welfare facilities for operatives to rest and relax in before going back to work.
Research has found that around 25% of workers are risking their health by refusing to take a break and one third of workers skip lunch to cope with their workloads. Encourage operatives to take their full break entitlement to prevent the onset of fatigue.

Signs of fatigue

Site management has a duty to assess the physical and cognitive signs of fatigue amongst the workforce. If site management believes an operative is displaying signs of fatigue, it is important to address this problem quickly. This is because operatives are often unaware that they are fatigued. Common symptoms of fatigue include falling asleep, long blinks, difficulty keeping eyes open, frequent yawning and staring blankly.

To monitor the signs of fatigue, site management could:

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of fatigue and understand what action to take if you think an operative is suffering from fatigue.
Supply operatives with wearable technologies such as wristbands and helmets, examples include Readibands and SmartCaps. These technologies have biometric sensors which can detect changes in physical movement, including facial, eye and bodily movements. This can help monitor signs of exhaustion and be used to warn operatives if they are reaching high levels of fatigue.
Encourage operatives to download smartphone applications such as Sleep Cycle, which tracks sleeping patterns to help workers monitor their own fatigue levels.
Install telematic systems in vehicles, plant and mobile machinery to detect signs of fatigue, including erratic steering and braking.
If you notice a worker is tired, do not allow the operative to commence work or continue working if they are fatigued to such an extent that their condition may prejudice their safety or the safety of others.

Educate the workforce

“This issue is rarely discussed, there should be regular discussions on it.”

– Anonymous response to the Scheme survey

Educating the workforce is essential for managing and mitigating fatigue. To prevent workers becoming exhausted, site management should teach operatives about the health and safety risks associated with fatigue.

To educate operatives about fatigue, site management could:

Display posters and leaflets on site and in welfare facilities to raise awareness about worker fatigue.
Educate operatives about the signs and symptoms associated with exhaustion to help workers identify when they might be too fatigued to work safely.
Host toolbox talks to educate operatives about the health and safety risks associated with fatigue. There needs to be recognition that both operatives and site management have a responsibility in managing fatigue.
Discuss the issue of worker fatigue during site briefings and site inductions to remind operatives about the dangers of working while fatigued before construction commences.
Educate operatives about the importance of sleep, rest and recovery, and the dangers of sleep deprivation. Ensure operatives are aware that insufficient sleep and being awake for long periods of time can significantly increase the risk of errors and accidents on site.

Workplace culture

“We are a ‘mans’ industry and men seldom say that they are tired as it would be seen as being a sign of weakness. We all need to look at ourselves and our mates around us and be honest.”

“It’s a hard subject to bring up to your peers and to accept you may be suffering from fatigue”

– Anonymous responses to the Scheme survey

Construction is a stereotypically masculine industry, imposing values of toughness and independence. This masculine culture can make operatives reluctant to admit they are fatigued and can deter them from voicing concerns about their health and wellbeing. It is important to ensure operatives feel supported by fostering a culture in which workers feel encouraged to discuss both personal and professional issues without fear of judgement or reprimand.

To promote a positive workplace culture, site management should:

Regularly consult with the workforce about shift patterns and workloads to ensure no operative is feeling overburdened. If an operative raises an issue, consider amending their working hours and workloads to reduce the risk of fatigue.
Encourage operatives to feedback their opinions on workloads and working schedules. If concerns are raised, assess the situation and if appropriate, put in place control measures such as additional breaks, job rotation, replacement personnel or extra supervision.
Implement a confidential reporting procedure for operatives to voice concerns about fatigue. This might encourage workers to discuss any worries they might have about their workload or shift patterns.
Support operatives in accessing advice, support and resources for managing fatigue and exhaustion.

However, it is important to remember that it is the responsibility of both the employer and employee in managing fatigue. Operatives have a duty to communicate with site management if they start displaying signs of fatigue and raise concerns if they are feeling more tired than usual, particularly if there have been changes in their personal life, shift patterns or workload.

Health and wellbeing

Although it is clear that work-related factors play a significant role in contributing to exhaustion, feelings of fatigue can be exacerbated by an individual’s lifestyle choices.

To reduce the risk of fatigue, site management should:

Encourage operatives to live a healthy lifestyle by promoting exercise, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, drugs and alcohol, and staying hydrated. This will allow operatives to make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices.
Invite a health professional on site to carry out health assessments, to educate operatives about the health risks associated with fatigue and the symptoms of exhaustion to look out for.
Host warm-up exercises before construction work commences to boost energy levels. Exercise and physical activity improves fitness, health and wellbeing and reduces stress.
Encourage operatives to seek medical advice if they are concerned about their health and wellbeing or if signs of fatigue persist.
Provide operatives with guidance and advice for getting good quality sleep. Sleep plays an important role in managing fatigue, and sleep deficit can have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to work safely and productively.
Signpost operatives towards information and resources that will help them to make lifestyle choices which will improve their health and wellbeing.

Remember that site management does not have the sole responsibility in managing fatigue. Operatives should take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing to ensure they are fit for work.

This learning resource has shown that the construction industry is making considerable progress towards tackling the issue of worker fatigue. However, the industry must continue to raise awareness about the health and safety risks associated with fatigue to safeguard the health and wellbeing of everyone working in construction.

Alongside the information above, it is also advised to use the resources provided in the ‘External resources’ section of the learning resource which identifies valuable information from other organisations.

The Scheme will continue to update this as new case studies and examples of best practice emerge. If you would like to share how you are addressing the issue of worker fatigue, please contact the Best Practice Hub team by emailing: enquiries@ccsbestpractice.org.uk

Examples of best practice

Cold Cut Rebar

Published 7 May 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring Inspection and assurance Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring Inspection and assurance Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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Following recent updates in the fire prevention legislation, the contractor are actively encouraging and working to eliminate the requirement for all hot works through the design phases. They have worked with the subcontractor to procure a hydraulic cordless rebar cutter that is spark-free and eliminates the requirement for hot works/permits. The cutter significantly reduces noise during the rebar cutting in…

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Manoeuvring Heavy Steelwork using Rollers

Published 26 July 2023 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Lessons learned Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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CategoriesLessons learned Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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Steelwork was required in various locations throughout this tightly compacted residential home, including the formation of a new lower ground floor, rear terrace and installation of a central ‘stability frame’. To help manoeuvre these steels weighing in at almost 400kg each into the building, industrial grade rollers on bearings were implemented. Steels were delivered by hi-ab, positioned on rollers, and…

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Kone Site Flow

Published 10 July 2023 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Controls Health risk assessments and monitoring Inspection and assurance Monitoring

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CategoriesControls Health risk assessments and monitoring Inspection and assurance Monitoring

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Kone Site Flow is a traffic analysis system which this contractor has implemented during construction to boost efficiency in the distribution of people and materials around the building via lifts and hoists to reduce waiting time and improve efficiency in vertical transportation up through the building. Each operative on site during induction is issued with a Kone Site flow sticker…

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Solo-Gyps Drywall Attachment

Published 2 June 2023 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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The Solo-Gyps drywall attachment simplifies the positioning of plasterboard ceiling panels saving manpower and effectively allowing one operator to lift panels without assistance. This is ideal for interior fit-out projects and significantly reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injury and fatigue for installers. Plasterboard for ceilings have historically been raised by handed, while there have been some lifting aids and props…

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Dobydo Robotic Arm

Published 18 April 2023 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Controls Modern methods of construction

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CategoriesControls Modern methods of construction

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This contractor is the first in the county to use a robotic arm to perform work in the high-risk environments around the segment stacks and lift. A robotic arm performs two tasks when preparing the segments for ring building. Dobydo is the name given to the part of the robot that screws in the segment dowels and fittings. Krokodyl is…

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Heavy Duty Scaffold Tube Transporter

Published 16 January 2023 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Coaching for unsafe actions Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesCoaching for unsafe actions Health risk assessments and monitoring

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This contractor has looked into opportunities to reduce the risk of back and other injuries from the manual handling of scaffolding components such as scaffold tubes. Through this research the contractor has recently purchased two trolleys specifically designed to carry scaffold tubes around sites and factories. This has been welcomed positively by the employees on the project. To find out…

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Building Strength to Prevent Workforce Injuries

Published 12 September 2022 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Coaching for unsafe actions Exercise Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesCoaching for unsafe actions Exercise Health risk assessments and monitoring

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This initiative is focused on preventing repetitive strain injuries in construction which currently accounts for a third of all construction related injuries. The contractor has engaged with a former Team GB and current Red Bull Sport Strength & Conditioning coach to develop a programme specifically aimed at reducing repetitive strain injuries in the construction industry. The overall aim is to…

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Spinal Assessments

Published 4 August 2022 | No comments
Written by Laura Regan

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Health risk assessments and monitoring

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Poor posture can lead to spinal and muscular issues, but it can also cause headaches, poor sleep, and digestive problems. There are also links between poor posture and anxiety levels, with there being a clear link between posture and how it can affect our mental health. With that in mind, looking after the posture of workers is very important. On…

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Safe Handling of Surveying Equipment

Published 9 May 2022 | No comments
Written by Anne Edwards

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

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Engineers can carry a lot of heavy surveying equipment whilst out on site. One of the heavier items they carry is a theodolite which can weigh up to 12kg. As this equipment is stored in a case, the weight cannot be spread across the body but is instead distributed to the one hand causing the body to twist when walking…

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Angled Material Trolley Accessory

Published 20 December 2021 | No comments
Written by James Rawlings

Categories Materials management

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CategoriesMaterials management

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In the early stages of this project it was identified that the method for transporting 3 metre lengths of mechanical and electrical materials such as pipework, trunking, cable tray, Unistrut, cable basket etc. from the basement loading bay to the fit-out floors was a challenging task. This was because the designated goods lift is under 3 metres long. Therefore the…

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Use of Ball Bearings to Manoeuvre Heavy Loads

Published 9 November 2021 | No comments
Written by Meena Bhogal

Categories Controls Lessons learned

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Cement boards are used in various applications on the project such as being rendered for gas farm walls and soffits. The boards are drilled into for fixing, and over 1,400 holes are required. Previously, this was a laborious operation as the operative needed to lift and rotate the board to drill the holes. These boards weigh approximately 13 kg/m2 so…

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Eliminating Harm through Rock Wheel Trencher

Published 25 October 2021 | No comments
Written by Sandra Evenden

Categories Modern methods of construction

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CategoriesModern methods of construction

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The traditional method of saw cutting trenches can be time consuming and expose workers to risks such as noise and flying debris as well as fatigue if carrying out the task over prolonged periods of night time closures. In order to minimise these risks, athe contractor trialed the use of a rock wheel trencher on their projecy and it significantly…

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Crane Hook Manipulator

Published 14 October 2021 | No comments
Written by Lewis Haines

Categories Controlled access

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CategoriesControlled access

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As a result of site constraints with a limited distance to the NWR fence, combined with their complicated façade installation process, they needed a specialist device for installing some of their façade components. They used ‘Alice’ – their hydraulic remote controlled crane hook attachment. This prevents the number of operatives having to work around a suspended load and can turn…

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Providing Support to Employees and their Families

Published 6 September 2021 | No comments
Written by Alec Taylor

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health

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This contractor is providing free access to the Canada Life ‘WeCare’ app and website, plus AIG’s bereavement support helpline for all construction employees and their immediate family members. The Canada Life WeCare app is a service with access to a 24/7 online GP, mental health counselling, a get fit programme, plus legal and financial support as well as diet and…

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Thermocouple to Assess Concrete Strength in Real Time

Published 23 August 2021 | No comments
Written by Danica Chambers

Categories Inspection

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CategoriesInspection

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This contractor is using a thermocouple to assess concrete strength. The thermocouple is fixed by cable ties and then connected to the wireless transmitter. The contractor will then cast and pour the concrete and using the web portal view the results Using this method of concrete testing has benefits for the project which are: The requirement for manually making cubes…

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Lateral Transport Unit

Published 12 July 2021 | No comments
Written by Olivia Hack

Categories Energy efficient plant and equipment

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CategoriesEnergy efficient plant and equipment

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Due to the complex nature of manoeuvring heavy, pre-cast soffit slabs in a site with many logistical constraints and challenges, the project engineers researched into what they could use to facilitate the movement of the slabs, whilst also reducing the associated health and safety risks. The slabs are required to be moved between different levels and different columns which, is…

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Height Adjustable Desks in Site Office

Published 12 July 2021 | No comments
Written by Imogen Tanqueray

Categories Exercise

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CategoriesExercise

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On this project in the site office they are using desks that are adjustable by height. This has allowed staff more flexibility in their working environment, whereby staff can choose to work standing or sitting, and can change throughout the day. These desks have been received really well by the team, especially for those with chronic back pain who feel…

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Mindfulness Development Workshop

Published 29 June 2021 | One comment
Written by Katy Bald

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health Wellbeing events

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CategoriesAccess to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health Wellbeing events

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This contractor have devised a staff wellbeing measure to ensure all staff have the access and opportunity to help them manage their day-to-day wellbeing. Research has highlighted that many people find practising mindfulness helps them become more aware of the present moment and can help them enjoy the world around them more and understand themselves better. The way people think…

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Insight Timer

Published 5 May 2021 | No comments
Written by Denise Southard

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health Wellbeing events

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CategoriesAccess to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health Wellbeing events

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As an employer, the contractor has a duty of care to ensure that health, safety and wellbeing, and that of others, is not affected whilst at work. They also has a legal duty to manage the risks from fatigue, irrespective of a person’s willingness to work extra hours or preference for certain shift patterns or social reasons. They have implemented…

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Fatigue Management Controls for 24 Hour Working

Published 29 March 2021 | No comments
Written by Emily Edwards

Categories Controls and expected behaviours

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CategoriesControls and expected behaviours

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Major transport infrastructure projects often require periods of working around the clock during planned closures (e.g. on the rail network, motorways). This contractor recently executed a 9 day period of 24 hour working during a ‘blockade’ closure of the Network Rail East Coast Mainline. Various blockade specific controls were introduced around fatigue to protect workforce safety and wellbeing, including the…

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Window Glazing Robots to Minimise Manual Handling

Published 16 March 2021 | No comments
Written by Sarah-Jane Davies

Categories Modern methods of construction

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CategoriesModern methods of construction

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To install windows on this project they have been using Winlet glazing robots to minimise the manual handling involved by the operatives. The robots provide remote controlled lifting and weigh just 1800kgs with full counterweights, and can be used to operate across low load bearing floors. The machines use powerful vacuum lifters to hold glass and other loads safely. The…

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Mood Meter

Published 1 March 2021 | No comments
Written by Irina Ursu

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has had a marked effect on people’s mental health. The Lack of social life and continued work had some impact on construction workers. Being at work most of the times, the contractor identified the need for creating support from colleagues and managers. They decided to introduce mood meter. Arriving onsite, workers are encouraged to take…

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‘Spotlight on… worker fatigue’ follow-up article

Published 27 January 2021 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Consultation on health and safety Mental health Recreational facilities Rest Wellbeing events

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CategoriesAccess to health practitioners and counselling services Consultation on health and safety Mental health Recreational facilities Rest Wellbeing events

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In September 2019, the Scheme launched ‘Spotlight on… worker fatigue’ to raise awareness of this significant health and safety issue facing the industry. How can fatigue affect health and safety? Fatigue can slow reaction times, create lapses in judgement, reduce concentration and coordination, diminish cognitive ability and cause individuals to underestimate risk. In the construction industry, individuals can often endure…

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Master Mover SM100+

Published 7 December 2020 | No comments
Written by Lucy Austin

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring

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The MasterMover is an electric tugging machine. The device was procured from the market and its attachment has been specifically designed and tested to fit the frame of the Portable Utility Cupboards (PUC’s). Familiarisation training has been delivered by supply chain to all PME operatives handling these units. The attachment was made specifically to move the portable utility cupboard on…

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Individual Voting Pads

Published 26 May 2020 | No comments
Written by Cameron Blackwell

Categories Training plans

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CategoriesTraining plans

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To engage better with the workforce and improve feedback, the EARPS team purchased a set of voting pads to use during extended SOS presentations and Stand-Downs. These voting pads allowed questions to be asked of the workforce and provide feedback on initiatives, site arrangement, and fatigue management. They are also used to keep our quarterly stand downs interactive by using…

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Worker Fatigue Focus

Published 16 March 2020 | No comments
Written by Eliza Pennick

Categories Consultation Feedback Mental health Rest

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CategoriesConsultation Feedback Mental health Rest

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As a company, Mark James Complete Building Services have been supporting the recent ‘Spotlight on… worker fatigue’ learning toolkit. We also recognise that mental health issues and fatigue can sometimes come hand-in-hand, and this is something we are focused to support our employees with. They launched their campaign with an online survey, which was sent via email to all our…

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HAVS Calculator App

Published 17 February 2020 | No comments
Written by Amy Stockton

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring

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At CR Civil Engineering, we know how important it is to minimise workers exposure to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVs) and how difficult it can be to calculate exposure if multiple tools are used in one shift. To help, we have developed a smartphone app which Site Managers and Foremen can use to make the calculation as simple as possible….

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Rebar Mechanical Tying Gun

Published 13 January 2020 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Coaching for unsafe actions Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesCoaching for unsafe actions Health risk assessments and monitoring

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Bam Nuttall have implemented rebar mechanical tying guns to increase efficiency and significantly reduce repetitive strain injuries. The tying gun provides a solution to the physically demanding, monotonous and time-consuming work of manual tying. Tying rebar involves handling heavy materials, working in awkward positions, and repeating the same hand twisting motions over and over. All of this can lead to…

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Health and Wellbeing

Published 13 January 2020 | One comment
Written by Paul Watkins

Categories Canteen Recreational facilities Rest

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CategoriesCanteen Recreational facilities Rest

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Morgan Sindall and its subcontractors all have strong beliefs regarding the wellbeing of the workforce and staff. As a result, during a sit down with our subcontractors, we all decided as a team to stop all work on Wednesdays between 9 and 10 am, and in this hour, only using phones for social purposes rather than taking work calls and getting…

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Combatting Fatigue, Anxiety and Depression with SAD Lighting

Published 17 December 2019 | No comments
Written by Anna Bramley

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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At Robertson we believe that a healthy workforce is a happy workforce! We value our workforce and understand that mental health problems and fatigue can affect anyone at any time. We operate an open door policy where employees and subcontractors can talk to a manager or Mental Health First Aider in absolute confidence. We provide a free helpline that offers…

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Hydraulic Punch Driver

Published 2 December 2019 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Energy efficient plant and equipment

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CategoriesEnergy efficient plant and equipment

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The site are using a battery powered hydraulic punch driver. It has an aluminium head which is designed to rotate at 360 degrees. This enables the operator to use the punch in a confined space. This helps avoid injury as manual handling is reduced and there is no longer a need to use a jig saw within an awkward position….

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Moodbeam Device for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Published 28 October 2019 | One comment
Written by David McPherson

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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‘Moodbeam’ devices are currently being trialled on this project. The aim of these wristband devices is to support meaningful conversations in relation to the user’s mental health and wellbeing. The device logs sleep and activity, and the user presses a yellow button on the device when feeling happy and a blue button when feeling unhappy. The device connects to an…

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Mediation and Meditation

Published 5 August 2019 | One comment
Written by Rachel Mills

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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On The Broadway project, we are focusing on the wellbeing of all Multiplex staff and contractors working on our behalf. We have collectively been thinking of new ways to help manage stress and in doing so have took to mindfulness and how it can help in the workplace. We invited a guest speaker to help us learn meditation techniques as…

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Fatigue Monitoring System

Published 24 June 2019 | No comments
Written by Kevin Roodt

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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Considering the importance that the HSE places on fatigue and working excessive, along with our focus on Mental health, we decided to have Datascope create a way in which to record and clearly indicate the number of hours worked per operative per week. A report is then automatically created and sent to the Goodmans Fields management team to review on…

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Mobile Site Accommodation

Published 29 April 2019 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Canteen Recreational facilities Rest Showers Suitable/accessible separate facilities

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CategoriesCanteen Recreational facilities Rest Showers Suitable/accessible separate facilities

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Mid 2018 saw GBM Demolition make the business decision to design and build a series of transportable site accommodation trailers. Each one features separate sleeping accommodation for up to five people, complete with TV, heating and individual en-suite bathrooms with showers, as well as a shared fully operational kitchen and mess facility. Each unit comes to site with the access…

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Onsite Drivers’ Rest Station

Published 25 March 2019 | No comments
Written by Deborah Madden

Categories Recreational facilities Rest

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CategoriesRecreational facilities Rest

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We recognised that drivers within our supply chain were taking their breaks in vehicles which is not ideal! As we have enforced zero idling on our site, we decided to make a change by offering somewhere to relax while taking breaks or waiting for unloading. This has undoubtedly had a positive impact in the direct environment of the site, as…

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Electric Wheelbarrows

Published 25 February 2019 | No comments
Written by Pedro Flores

Categories Carbon reduction Noise

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CategoriesCarbon reduction Noise

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Recently on one of our sites, operatives were challenged by the difficulties in renovating a historic Grade II listed building in London City Centre. The project had various environmental requirements that needed to be met, such as noise restrictions and air quality standards. Nevertheless one of the most challenging adversities was the size of the site, which required operatives to…

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Morning Warm Up Exercises

Published 10 December 2018 | No comments
Written by Stephane Hossard

Categories Exercise

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CategoriesExercise

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At our Pontoon Dock site, we constantly try to improve the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We believe that we our obliged to provide our construction workers with the highest standards in terms of safety and working conditions. Using a variety of methods, we can make our jobs easier and preserve our safety. The warm up exercises in the…

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Construction Industry Helpline App

Published 10 December 2018 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health

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CategoriesAccess to health practitioners and counselling services Mental health

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The Lighthouse Club Construction Industry Charity, who run the Construction Industry Helpline, launched an app in collaboration with COINS (a construction software firm) and Building Mental Health (an online information portal about mental health, also developed by the charity). The new Construction Industry Helpline app will be a free, confidential service aimed at providing essential information and guidance on wellbeing…

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Off Road Holding Area Collaboration

Published 17 October 2018 | No comments
Written by Michael Barratt MBE

Categories CLOCS Delivery timings Pedestrian safety

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CategoriesCLOCS Delivery timings Pedestrian safety

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In 2015, 107 pedal cyclists and 186 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured on British roads in accidents involving at least one HGV. HGVs were involved in 25% of pedestrian fatalities and almost 60% of cyclist fatalities. According to the European Transport Safety Council (2001), indications have shown that driver fatigue is a contributing factor in approximately 20% of HGV…

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Electronic Wellbeing Hub

Published 16 May 2018 | No comments
Written by Caroline Gee

Categories Mental health Wellbeing events

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CategoriesMental health Wellbeing events

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GRAHAM have developed an online portal to manage their wellbeing programme more effectively, allowing employees to self-manage diagnostics, appointments and gain access to additional wellbeing support resources including videos on wellbeing subjects and access to national and local wellbeing services. Accessible through the intranet for staff and employees the GRAHAM Wellbeing Hub promotes key wellbeing messages to everyone, from the…

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Phone Home Room

Published 14 May 2018 | No comments
Written by Nyron Higgins

Categories Mental health Rest

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CategoriesMental health Rest

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Mount Anvil has introduced a room on all our sites with free WiFi and a tablet if needed, to enable the workforce to contact their family whilst at work. This is to help combat stress and mental health issues related to those who work away from home and have minimal contact with their loved ones. These rooms have proved a…

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Hi-Viz Jacket with Drinks Bottle

Published 26 January 2018 | No comments
Written by john fryer

Categories PPE Reduced use of single use plastics

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CategoriesPPE Reduced use of single use plastics

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We have added a ‘Camelbak’ drinks bottle in the rear of the hi-viz for operatives so that they do not have to walk around the site looking for hydration. This is especially useful for traffic marshals who are on the go, who can quickly hydrate in the summer months, reducing the need for plastic bottles which are becoming a major problem…

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Elevated Desks for Staff Wellbeing

Published 9 January 2018 | No comments
Written by Darren Peck

Categories Exercise Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesExercise Health risk assessments and monitoring

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In the site office, elevation desks were procured to ensure that it is possible for employees to work standing up for periods of the day. The benefits of this include increased wellbeing, flexibility for employees to adjust desk height individually and to work standing up. This will improve health in terms of reduced muscle pain from working in uncomfortable positions…

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Readiband Technology for Fatigue

Published 9 January 2018 | No comments
Written by Natalie Swan

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring Sleep

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring Sleep

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The health, safety and wellbeing of the BBMV workforce is of vital importance. BBMV at the Crossrail Whitechapel project worked in partnership with Fatigue Science Limited, as a part of a pilot to help enhance wellbeing in the workplace by looking at a sleep patterns in a sample of the workforce across all roles and shift patterns. The pilot combined…

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Wellbeing Questionnaire

Published 5 January 2018 | No comments
Written by Darren Peck

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring Wellbeing events

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring Wellbeing events

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The Mace team at Grosvenor Crescent attempted to quantify wellbeing statistically. A wellbeing questionnaire was created. This questionnaire is used by the NHS to test Wellbeing in the UK and was created by the University of Warwick Medical School (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)). The questionnaire involves 14 Questions with five response options available per question. Each response option generates…

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Increasing the Standards of the Working Environment

Published 2 January 2018 | No comments
Written by Ushna Mughal

Categories Canteen Recreational facilities

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CategoriesCanteen Recreational facilities

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The Greenwich Peninsula Upper Riverside welfare facilities have been designed to improve the standards and working environment on construction sites. Mace directors analysed a number of studies which show a correlation between the influence of working environment and staff productivity. This included examples from Google and Microsoft offices. This allowed the Mace team to identify measures that could be implemented…

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Ecospot Boards

Published 9 October 2017 | No comments
Written by Dawn Smith

Categories Controls Incident investigation

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CategoriesControls Incident investigation

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During bricklaying activities, there is a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries, due to the repetitive bending required to retrieve mortar from the mortar boards. The Ecospot is a bracket and mortar board that attaches to any standard scaffolding. It can be adjusted to suit any height that is comfortable for each individual bricklayer. These are currently in use on Mace’s…

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Beating the Mental Health Stigma

Published 12 May 2017 | No comments
Written by Fiona Power

Categories Mental health

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CategoriesMental health

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The project has identified mental health as a key focus for 2017. To kick off the year in a positive light, presentations on mental health awareness were delivered to the workforce as part of our safe start following the Christmas period. The presentation reiterated how to identify the symptoms of stress and fatigue and how to foster positive mental health. Following…

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Fatigue Wristband for Tunnelling Workforce

Published 2 February 2017 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Health risk assessments and monitoring

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CategoriesHealth risk assessments and monitoring

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Worker fatigue poses a potential health and safety hazard, and can be detrimental to the overall health of the workforce. Fatigue can have similar effects to alcohol, slowing down reaction time, causing lapses in judgement, and impairing cognitive ability. This danger is particularly relevant to projects which involve tunnelling, as the long shifts and rotating day and night shifts put workers at greater…

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Stress and Resilience Guidance

Published 9 December 2016 | No comments
Written by Tom Horton

Categories Consultation on health and safety Wellbeing events

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CategoriesConsultation on health and safety Wellbeing events

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During periods of change and high demand, the Costain Skanska Joint Venture building Crossrail’s Paddington Station require their staff to be resilient and proactive about maintaining their wellbeing. The workplace has a duty of care to provide an environment that not only creates formal opportunities for wellbeing discussions, but actively encourages managers to discuss levels of stress and resilience with…

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Managing Worker Fatigue

Published 4 February 2016 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Access to health practitioners and counselling services Consultation on health and safety Health risk assessments and monitoring Rest

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CategoriesAccess to health practitioners and counselling services Consultation on health and safety Health risk assessments and monitoring Rest

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Worker fatigue should be acknowledged as a serious concern to health and wellbeing. A summary of what exactly worker fatigue is and the effects can be found here. Alike to all safety hazards on a construction site, worker fatigue and the risks associated with it not only effect the individual, but also those around them. The Causes Some of the…

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What is Worker Fatigue?

Published 3 February 2016 | No comments
Written by CCS Best Practice Hub Administrator

Categories Flexible working Rest

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CategoriesFlexible working Rest

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The safety and wellbeing of a site’s workforce is a primary concern and must be properly monitored and managed. Amongst other common safety hazards, worker fatigue should not be something that is overlooked. “A state of perceived weariness that can result from prolonged working, heavy workload, insufficient rest and inadequate sleep.” – Office of Rail Regulation 2012 The Effects A construction…

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worker fatigue

‘Spotlight on… worker fatigue’ aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks associated with fatigue and provides the industry with guidance for addressing this issue.

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