CECA has announced the dates for its annual health, safety & wellbeing campaign Stop. Make a Change for this year, which will take place between Monday 11 – Friday 22 October 2021. Why this announcement? As many members will be aware, this month is Stress Awareness Month, and reducing workplace stress is one of the aims of the campaign.
The formal launch of SMAC-21 on Monday 11 October coincides with World Mental Health Day, while the European Week for Safety & Health is expected to run from 18-22 October, an ideal opportunity to focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working in construction and the built environment across the UK.
At the heart of this year’s SMAC campaign is the focus on the individual – and particularly those who have been affected by COVID-19. We want everyone who works in the construction industry to re-engage with their own health, safety and wellbeing and to ask themselves what needs to be changed, along with how they might go about making that change.CECA will publish a revised series of ‘Conversation Starter‘ kits – to be used by all the workforce to discuss key concerns around work and also non-work situations, and how both the individual and their organisation can do to help address these concerns.We are also once again working with Cancer Research UK and Mates in Mind on the campaign to bring the most relevant and up-to-date information, guidance, and advice to you where possible.
The topics under discussion this year will be:
- Respiratory Health
- People/Plant Interface
- Mental Health & Workplace Stress
- Cancer & construction
- COVID-19
- Access/Egress
- Electrical Installations
- Hand Injuries
- Lifting Operations including MSDs
- Office Safety
- Risk Zones
- Slips, Trips & Falls
- Working at Height.
If you would like to participate in SMAC-21 or would like to know more, contact CECA National Civil Engineering Director Peter Crosland. If you would like to highlight what your organisation is doing during SMAC-20, please use the social media hashtag #StopMakeAChange.
SMAC-20 Testimonials
Reflecting on SMAC-20,Peter Crosland, CECA National Civil Engineering Director, said: “The SMAC campaign of 2020 was a huge success due to the ‘Conversation Starter’ approach used by many of the teams. It is hoped that 2021 has a greater reach across clients’ organisations, contractors, designers and asset owners alike – hopefully we can make a real difference to working lives. All you need to do is Stop and Make something Change, so you, your workmates and your family can all benefit.”
Commenting on last year’s campaign, Pat Martin, Operational Health & Safety Advisor for Amey, said: “The Stop Make A Change Campaign 2020 was delivered with a one team approach across all Scottish Water’s delivery partners and tier 1 contractors.
“The collaborative nature of the rollout was shown through the arrangement of the ‘how to deliver an impactful brief session’ which was led by Lynsey Lennon (H&S Manager) and Neil Clark (Human Factors Specialist) to hundreds of supervisors and managers with the emphasis on giving people the right tools to deliver an engaging briefing session with the workforce.
“Focal points included Respiratory Health and Mental Health and Stress in-line with normal workplace tasks and activities, with attention given to Covid-19 guidance and control measures.”
Alan Kirkwood, QSE Manager at George Leslie, said: “Working in partnership with Scottish Water (SW) and other SW contractors who were CECA members, George Leslie (GL) embraced CECA’s “Stop Make a Change” initiative, for the whole month of October 2020, focusing on mental health. GL Safety Health & Wellbeing Advisor, Steve McSorley, produced a personal video, under the strapline of ‘Let’s Remove the Stigma’.
“In the video, Steve outlined details of the company’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy and spoke personally about his own struggles with mental health. This generated a lot of discussion on sites, in which workers spoke about their own experiences. The importance of removing the stigma and seeking help was the general message. Steve McSorley, has granted permission for sharing his video with SW, CECA & across the industry, on the premise that, if it helps just one person, at a low point in their life, go and seek help, it will have been worth it.”
Mark Mahony, Head of SHEQ at Binnies, said: “We rolled out toolbox talks and advice on the difference between face coverings and face masks in these difficult COVID times. Ensuring correct RPE for construction activities involving dust and silica. We carried out further face fit testing to ensure we have trained personnel.
“On mental health, we developed training awareness so people can get confidential advice if required. We expanded our Employee Assistance advice to include our supply chain. Both initiatives were extremely well received.”
For more information, visit www.stopmakeachange.co.uk