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March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

The dangers of working with lead and what employers can do about them

March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

Historically, lead is a material that has been widely used in the construction industry. In decades gone by, lead-based paints were a common feature as were lead pipes and roof flashings. However, studies have since shown it to be a substance that can cause significant physical harm, which means steps have to be taken to either eradicate its use or, where it already exists, protect those who work closely with it.

So, what are the risks of working with lead and how can we ensure everyone’s heath is adequately looked after?

What are the dangers of working with lead?

The Health and Safety Executive has published guidelines on working with lead, which outline some of the issues that can be caused by extended exposure to the substance. These include headaches, tiredness, weight loss, constipation, infertility and even damage to the kidneys, nerves and brain.

There are plenty of ways lead can enter your body, for example via the stripping or blast removal of old lead paint, which creates dust, fumes and vapour. In such circumstances, it can be easy to breathe it in or to swallow some if it gets transferred from your hands – perhaps when you’re eating, drinking, smoking or taking medication.

What steps should employers take to protect their workers?

There is a Control of Lead at Work Regulation which describes some of the ways employers can minimise their workers’ risks to lead exposure. These include:

• Fume and dust extraction to remove as many lead particles as possible from the environment.
• The provision of personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, goggles and disposable overalls for all employees on site.
• The use of different materials such as lead-free roof flashing, either to replace existing work or for new-build projects.
• Washing facilities to be provided on site so that all workers can clean their hands and faces before they eat, drink, smoke etc.
• The provision of a break area well away from the work site to reduce the risk of contamination.
• Staff at all levels to undergo regular training as to the protocols involved when working with lead.
• The fostering of a culture of accountability where employees are encouraged to point out potential problems before they start, as well as keep a close eye on their colleagues for any signs of being adversely affected due to lead exposure.

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March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

How temporary buildings can grow your business in the WFH era

March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

With the roadmap out of national lockdown now firmly in mind, many people who have worked from home during the pandemic will be looking forward to returning to work.

That may mean very different things for different companies, however. While some sectors have suffered badly during times of lockdown and social restrictions, others have managed to thrive.

You may be a business owner that has seen success over the past year, but it may have left your previous premises unable to handle your newfound size, staffing or stock requirements.

If so, temporary buildings could offer you a quick and affordable solution. Here are some of the benefits.

Speed

If the departure from lockdown continues at its current pace, you may well need new or extended premises in a hurry.

Rather than get tangled up in a protracted deal for a new bricks-and-mortar office, shop or facility, temporary buildings give you the chance to move or extend in a matter of weeks, or maybe even days.

They can be constructed, to your specification, in timeframes that won’t affect your business and can help people get back to work faster.

Versatility

Many businesses do not anticipate a sudden return to previous working schedules, with working from home set to remain a part of our lives for a long time to come.

There may well be social distancing measures to consider, and a temporary extension will allow you to implement this until a permanent solution is found.

The versatility of the buildings also extends to their use. Whether it is as office space, storage or something else required by your business.

Price

Purchasing new business property does not come cheap, but temporary buildings tend to be much more affordable when comparing those of similar sizes, uses and specifications.

Adding new premises to your company’s portfolio at a more affordable rate will buy you a new space and the time to find a better deal on a site your business can move to in the long-term later on down the line.

Quality

They may come at a lower price point, but that does not mean that you have to give up on the high standards of your business and its employees with temporary buildings.

They can be built with fully operating electrical, aircon and plumbing systems, meaning you and your staff don’t have to skip on amenities and breakout areas.

A workforce that operates in comfort is likely to be more productive and focused on the job at hand. Opting for temporary buildings with all the facilities of a regular structure can bring that to your business.

Are you thinking about expanding your premises in the future?

Tax Scouts & The UKConstructionBlog

March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

We have joined forces with TaxScouts to bring you more information about the UK’s Construction Industry Scheme.

TaxScouts sort your Self Assessment for you. £119, all in. Fast, effortless and done for you online by a certified UK accountant.

What is the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is used by HMRC to collect income tax from subcontractors in the construction industry.

You’re eligible to register for the scheme if you’re a self-employed construction worker. If you’re a full-time employee, the scheme does not apply to you. You can check with your company to confirm which bracket you fall under.

In the past, self-employed construction workers (subcontractors) were paid in cash. The difficulties in keeping track of this led HMRC to create the Construction Industry Scheme in 1971, allowing them to tax subcontractors’ earnings as soon as they were paid out by their contractors.

Why register for CIS if you work as a subcontractor in construction?

If you’re registered for the scheme, you will have only 20% tax deducted from your salary, rather than 30% that is deducted for those who aren’t registered.

What is the CIS rebate?

The 20% deduction usually works out as more than you owe in tax, so subcontractors can claim back a CIS tax rebate from HMRC in the April of the following tax year. For most CIS construction workers, the average refund is about £2,500.

Example of how CIS works:

Big Woodworks Ltd hires John Carpenter on their site as a subcontractor. Every month John is owed £1,500 pounds for his work.

Every month the company pays £300 (20% of the £1,500) to HMRC as John’s taxes

The company sends a CIS statement or payslip to John as proof

The company pays the remaining £1,200 to John as payment for his work.

How do CIS refunds work?

In the example above, John’s annual income was £18,000 (£1,500 * 12).

John technically owes HMRC £2,370.20 (£1,230 Income tax + £1,015 national insurance).

However, throughout the year Big Woodworks Ltd paid £3,600 in taxes on John’s behalf!

John is now due a refund.

CIS Calculator

Construction Workers can quickly calculate how big your CIS tax rebate is and what expenses you can claim. Sometimes you can claim expenses even without receipts – use this calculator to see if you qualify.

Why Asbestos Was Banned in UK Construction

March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

Asbestos was fully banned in the UK construction industry in 1999 and was the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Any building built before 2000 could potentially contain it. Here is one of the main asbestos-related illnesses and who could be affected.

Mesothelioma

With the UK being one of the targeted regions for highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, it’s important to know where the disease can come from.

This disease is caused mainly due to the permittance of asbestos use long after other countries had struck a law against using the mineral.

Global shipbuilding used multiple different asbestos related products to insulate the vessels, including those used in the British Armed Forces. Back in the 1980s it was considered an ideal material to insulate with and would be used in walls, floors, ceilings and even engine and boiler rooms.

Some of these rooms were used for sleeping in, which meant occupants would be exposed for long periods of time and could have inhaled airborne asbestos fibres.

Most of the UK residents who die from the disease are men aged over 65, however some younger people have been diagnosed due to second-hand exposure and because of indirect contact with asbestos materials.

Women are also exposed to asbestos indirectly due to living in areas near asbestos factories or having contact with people who have worked with asbestos.

Why was asbestos used?

Obviously looking back now, using asbestos was a damaging material for society and has caused more trouble than good. But before the issues surrounding asbestos were known, it was a useful building material due to it being cheap, strong, widely available and great at insulating buildings and ship vessels.

It was also fire and heat resistant so would offer some protection against the spreading of fires if one were to break out, and could also absorb sound better, which was favourable amongst terraced housing. At its peak it was used in over 3000 products, including mattresses and even cement.

Who is at risk?

People who have worked in the shipbuilding industry prior to 1980 and have served aboard a ship that contains asbestos are at more risk of developing asbestos exposure related mesothelioma. When a ship is repaired or maintained, or even retro-fitted, there is a risk of the asbestos fibres becoming airborne which then causes the chance of developing an asbestos-related disease.

Construction workers in the UK are also a high-risk group, mainly because the asbestos use was so prevalent for so long in older buildings and residences. Structures built or renovated before the 2000s are likely to contain asbestos, so when undergoing maintenance or refurbishments on these types of buildings extra care should be taken.

Other likely occupation groups that could be exposed to asbestos are:

• Plasterers
• Roofing Contractors
• Demolition teams
• Painters
• HVAC Engineers

• Pipe Fitters
• Teachers
• Maintenance workers
• Carpenters
• Joiners

• Plumbers
• Boilermakers
• Electricians

Essentially, anyone who has prolonged exposure to a building erected or refurbished before 2000s in the UK could potentially be exposed to asbestos. If you are concerned it is important to ask your manager or owner of the building to provide background information, or if this isn’t known, to have the building surveyed for any evidence of possible asbestos.

If you think you have been exposed to asbestos and would like to make a claim due to an illness that isn’t your fault, contact a solicitor and inform them of your situation.

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March 31, 2021 Uncategorized

7 BENEFITS OF HOLLOWCORE FLOORING

March 29, 2021 Uncategorized

Due to their unique combination of durability and reduced weight, hollowcore floors are proving an excellent option for residential builds, be they houses, apartments or even care homes. Here we look at seven benefits of hollowcore flooring, and how the method counteracts some of the most common flooring issues in both the short and long term.

1. Quick and Easy Installation

Because the large floor planks are pre-made, hollowcore is the quickest way to construct an entire floor by craning. Due to the hollowed-out, longitudinal voids, the product is also lightweight, making it even easier to install. The completed floor also provides an immediately safe working surface for follow-on trades, potentially reducing the timespan of the overall project.

2. Flexibility

Hollowcore floors typically span greater distances than timber, giving the designer more options to play with. Any subsequent alterations at a later date can be carried out without the need for any further structural work. Internal block partition walls can easily be built on top of the floor and don’t require any additional support.

3. Flood Resistant

With building on floodplains becoming more prevalent in the UK due to diminishing space, it is imperative for materials to be suitable for their environment. Unlike timber, in the event of a flash flood, concrete floors dry out quickly and efficiently to remain sturdily in place.

4. Fire Resistant

Concrete is inherently fireproof, which has two key benefits. First, there is no requirement for anti-fire chemical treatment whatsoever. And most importantly, in addition to the fact that it won’t burn or melt, the concrete’s thermal capacity absorbs heat, reducing the flames’ spread. All in all, this adds up to an evacuation time which is four times longer than that of a timber floor.

5. Pest Resistant

Another issue with timber it is susceptibility to common pests, such as vermin and termites. Concrete has no nutritional value to sustain such creatures, keeping them uninterested and out of the way. Concrete is also resistant to rot.

6. Sound Insulation

In a residential home, particularly with a family, something that can often go unchecked but later become a matter of significance is the volume of noise between rooms and floors. Concrete floors provide sound insulation between floors and, due to their density, will never cause squeaking or creaking as a wooden floorboard would. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, concrete floors offer freedom when erecting partition walls, which also contribute towards noise reduction throughout the building.

7. Eco Friendly

Concrete floors are energy efficient and help to balance internal temperatures, eliminating the need for air conditioning, which has been shown to have a negative impact on the environment. In the same vein, fewer draughts means less need for the heating to be on. In addition to this, hollowcore floors also have long-term benefits for the environment, as they are 100% recyclable.

Conclusion

Hollowcore is a cost-effective method suitable for steel, concrete or masonry constructions. As highlighted in this article, they’re built to last, and the immediate benefits they offer will remain present within their new building for many years to come.

Construction Talent Retention Scheme remains free to use

March 26, 2021 Uncategorized

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has confirmed its continued commitment to supporting the Construction Talent Retention Scheme (CTRS) for the industry and is working with CITB and others to support its ongoing development, including a new ‘Talentview’ early careers offering to support the attraction of new talent into the construction industry.

The scheme will remain completely free to use for all construction businesses and candidates until at least April 2022.

So far, CTRS has promoted 8,675 vacancies directly from construction companies across a wide range of roles, both site and office-based, professional and trade, and including many jobs suitable for people with transferrable skills who could be attracted into construction from other sectors such as aviation, retail, hospitality and leisure. It has also supported many larger organisations with internal redeployment programmes.

CTRS is estimated to have saved businesses more than £485,000 to date, based on typical recruitment costs, together with further savings achieved through internal redeployment placements facilitated through the system.

Currently there are more than 1,700 live vacancies being promoted on the CTRS site and more than 1,600 individual candidates registered. Almost three quarters of the employers registered on the scheme are SMEs, but the CTRS has also received strong backing from bigger firms such as MACE, Sir Robert McAlpine, Kier Group, Barratt Developments, AECOM and Costain.

As part of an ongoing investment to help tackle skills shortages and attract new talent into the industry, the CTRS will also broaden its support for early careers provision from next month, including help for employers and candidates interested in developing apprenticeships, graduate recruitment and work experience opportunities.

Linked to CTRS and other related platforms, Talentview Construction will make it easy for those searching for a career in construction to join, helping to address the predicted demand for additional roles to support the industry’s predicted growth and its drive towards net zero.

Mark Reynolds, the CLC lead on skills, said:

“The CTRS was set up last year as a rapid response measure to mitigate any loss of people and skills from the industry caused by Covid-19, having learned what happened in previous recessions. We thank the Department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy, CITB, major employers and others for their support.

“While there have obviously been redundancies in our sector, we have also seen a high level of skills retention and redeployment work too, including the fantastic employer response to retaining apprentices.

“The level of support and collaboration from the breadth of the sector has given us the confidence to develop further an industry-wide portal for talent management. Talentview Construction, an addition to CTRS, will soon provide a shop window for all those wishing to enter the industry as new entrants and career changers – a real opportunity to attract the new skills we need and to improve the diversity of the industry.”

www.trs-system.co.uk/construction