News

RVT Support the Health in Construction Leadership Group

News

The Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG) is a voluntary group of contractors, clients and professional bodies (including the HSE), who have united with a single goal - to eradicate the ill-health and disease caused by exposure to health hazards on building sites.

By challenging the norm and supporting new and innovative ways of working, the HCLG hope to make positive occupational health changes across the construction industry.

Where to start?

Occupational health is a broad area, and as an unfunded voluntary group with limited resources, the HCLG need to focus their efforts on the areas where they can have the most impact. As such, at the beginning of 2021, the HCLG decided to focus on three key areas:

• Respiratory Health
• Mental Health
• Musculoskeletal Disease (MSD)

Where do RVT fit in?

Renowned in the industry for our expertise in dust control, fume control and ventilation, RVT Group were invited to join the HCLG’s Respiratory Health Working Group.

Since April, we have been working closely with Clive Johnson (Derwent London), Keith Prince (Laing O’Rourke), Ian Strudley (Balfour Beatty) and many other members of the HCLG’s Respiratory Health Working Group to promote best practice.

So far this year, RVT have hosted two successful “Action on Respiratory Health” summits and have actively helped to support the HSE’s focus on construction dust. We have also produced a number of resources to help support the HCLG’s respiratory health campaign, including:

• Working with Skanska to produce a video & PDF document demonstrating best practice dust control – Download a Copy
• Working with Bowmer + Kirkland to produce a case study about mandating the use of half mask respirators on site – Download a Copy
• Producing a video interview with former construction worker and long-term COPD sufferer, Doug Hall – Watch Online

What else have we been up to?

We have also been working closely with George Mosey (chair of the MSD Working Group), and Steve Hails (chair of the Mental Health Working Group), to help share best practice resources throughout the industry.

Most recently, we hosted the HCLG webinar, where a variety of case studies and resources were shared:

• Mental Health Case Study: Tideway’s “TimeAway” campaign – Designed to encourage workers to take 2 hours of wellbeing time every week. Download the Case Study
• Mental Health Case Study: Tideway’s “#InItTogether Tribes” campaign – Creating a place where colleagues in similar situations could meet to connect and chat in a safe and supportive space. Download the Case Study
• 'Risk-reduction through design' Award: Sponsored by the HSE, this award champions ergonomics-based solutions that have been designed to reduce the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

If you missed the HCLG's “Together we can make the change” webinar, you can watch it here.

RVT are committed to working closely with the HCLG and the HSE, to help eradicate exposure to health hazards on site. If you would like to join the cause, please visit the HCLG website to learn more.