Health, Safety & Wellbeing

The Futurebuild convention and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) have published their collaborative ‘Futurebuild Report’, which looks at how construction industry working practices can develop and improve, with a focus on worker health.

Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of the Building Research Establishment, has criticised the government’s energy security plans.

Professor Carlos Moreno has won the third OBEL Award with his theory of user-friendly urban areas

McCann’s mental health and wellbeing support strategy is setting the pace for a welcome change of attitude in construction

Kathryn Aedy, Senior Inclusive Design Consultant at Motionspot, says ethical practice begins with design inclusivity

Richard Sabin, Managing Director of Biotecture, discusses the benefits and considerations of living walls

What is biophilic design, how does it change human psychology and why is it necessary to consider it as part of the built environment?

Springwatch’s Chris Packham and the rewilding campaign group Wild Card have asked the Crown Estate to consider pledging a portion of its 615,000 acres to wild nature.

The UK government is consulting on workforce reporting on disability for large employers.

EqualEngineers’ research into suicide rates in male construction workers points to a need for change in the industry

The government’s response to the Protect Duty Consultation also needs to consider how people behave in an emergency, says Eaton’s UK and Ireland Managing Director Siobahn Meikle

Will the renewed focus on Part M move accessibility issues up the agenda? And in turn, will that raise the profile of access consultants, who have hitherto been more involved with Equalities Act compliance, asks Andrew Pearson

Barbara Balocating Dunn PhD(c), Professor Sue Hignett, Professor Malcolm Cook and Dr Ellen Taylor discuss the development of inclusive design for people with dementia

Benenden Health’s survey shows a tendency among engineering and construction workers to hide health issues from employers

Scottish housebuilder Springfield Group and construction industry charity Lighthouse Club, have announced a 12-month partnership. Springfield staff, subcontractors and their families will have free access to trained professionals who can support them on subjects ranging from financial to mental health and wellbeing.

How do you implement a policy so outlandish that the company’s HR director warns against it? A look at Darren Evans Ltd may explain how

Data from staff members of 88 UK construction companies found that one in five employees have suffered from bullying in the last year. It also found that bullying was worse for those starting out in the industry, with half of 21- to 24-year-olds being bullied. Non-UK citizens are almost twice as likely to be bullied at work, with 31% of non-UK passport holders falling victim against 18% of UK citizens.

This week (7-13 February) marks the 15th Annual National Apprenticeship Week. CABE is committed to apprenticeships and wants to take the time to celebrate its own apprentices. Building Engineer takes a closer look at what inspired them in the first place.

The annual drinking water quality report, published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), shows drinking water in England and Wales is safe, reliable and meeting the DWI’s stringent high standards. However, it also shows many properties can still be affected by lead pipes, mostly found in older homes, and lead solder, which some plumbers are using illegally.

Decking boards formed of a composite material contributed to an external fire in a block of flats.