NEWS
CIOB PUBLISHES FREE BUILDING SAFETY ACT ADVICE FOR CLIENTS
A new guide to help construction clients better understand their responsibilities under Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act has been published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
The free guide is aimed at anyone commissioning building work on behalf of a business, public body, charity or other non-domestic organisation. It clearly sets out a client’s legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, as well as helping identify which projects are and are not subject to Building Regulations.
The guide also includes a checklist clients are recommended to follow in advance of each project, which covers checking the competence of experts, confirming processes for managing compliance and checking if their project is categorised as a high-risk building.
Ayo Allu, Chair of CIOB’s Client Steering Group, said: “As a client your role is no longer simply to commission construction work. You should help ensure it is properly planned, managed and delivered in compliance with the Building Regulations, keeping in mind the decisions you make before and during the project influence safety, quality and compliance.
“You are not expected to be a technical expert. However, you are expected to make informed decisions, appoint competent people, provide necessary information to your contractor and estate manager, maintain records and remain engaged throughout the project.
“It is not uncommon for projects to be derailed when clients are unaware of the level of involvement they need to have and only realise when it’s too late. By empowering clients to make good decisions from the outset and fulfil their legal obligations, their relationships with their contractors are likely to be easier and their projects more successful.”
To download the new guide, click here.
www.ciob.org
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WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM
STOCKSIGNS AND MURPHY BRING MENTAL HEALTH INTO THE OPEN ON CONSTRUCTION SITES
Stocksigns has developed a dedicated range of mental health signage in partnership with the Lucy Rayner Foundation, with infrastructure company Murphy among the first to roll it out across its sites. The initiative puts mental health awareness at the heart of everyday site culture – helping workers feel seen, supported and more able to start conversations that might otherwise go unspoken.
Mental health in construction is a pressing issue. Workers in the sector face long hours, physically demanding conditions and high-pressure projects, and are statistically among those most at risk of poor mental wellbeing. Yet for many, the subject remains difficult to raise on site.
Stocksigns recognised this gap and worked closely with the Lucy Rayner Foundation – a Redhill-based charity dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention – to develop a signage range designed specifically for construction and workplace environments. Leading that collaboration was Jenny Rayner MBE, CEO of the foundation, who helped shape the language and messaging behind the signs.
Murphy, one of the UK’s leading infrastructure and engineering companies, was an early adopter of the range. After providing feedback on the signage, Murphy began rolling it out across its sites, placing it in locations where workers naturally gather, including site entrances, welfare facilities, break rooms and noticeboards. The signage has since been included in Murphy’s own catalogue, helping to extend its reach across the wider business.
Ann Marie Coulthurst, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Murphy, said: “At Murphy we are committed to supporting our employees, including a focus on mental health. Our strategic partnership with Stocksigns has allowed us to implement consistent messaging across all our projects – whether that is signposting to mental health first aiders or to the Lighthouse Charity.”
Murphy’s signs also carry a QR code linking directly to the Lighthouse Charity, which provides free and confidential 24/7 support on emotional, physical and financial wellbeing to construction workers across the UK and Ireland – ensuring workers can access specialist help quickly and discreetly.
Jenny Rayner MBE commented: “Through the work we do around men’s mental health, I know only too well the cost of silence. Having this signage on site is so important – to raise awareness and start important conversations. That conversation could be the difference in saving someone’s life.”
For Stocksigns, the project reflects a belief that signage can do far more than direct or warn. At its best, it can reassure, connect and remind workers that their mental health matters just as much as their physical safety.
The complete range includes mental health first aider identification signs, awareness posters and support messaging – all designed to encourage workers to check in with themselves and their colleagues, and to make it easier to identify where help is available.
www.stocksigns.co.uk
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