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(Print) ISSN 2514-3751
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PROJECT
SAFETY
MATTERS
APS | THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROJECT SAFETY ISSUE 2 | 06/2017
CONSTRUCTING
A BETTER
FUTURE
12
MEET APS NATIONAL CDM
AWARDS HOST, PIERS TAYLOR
A sixty-second interview with renowned
and award-winning architect, Piers Taylor
on why he is excited to be part of the
National CDM Awards 2017.
15
DIVERSITY IN
CONSTRUCTION
Addressing the skills shortage through
diversity and inclusion Christina Riley,
Founder of LGBT Construct, discusses
the impact of Brexit on UK construction.
18
INTRODUCING 2 PAGE
FACT SHEETS
APS are introducing a new series of
2 page Fact Sheets. The first in the series
is included in this edition and features
the topic, Asbestos.
THE VOICE OF GOOD PRACTICE IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT

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BIM Strategy
Framework
Common methods
Procurement route
Capability and
capacity
Culture and
behaviour
Process
Forms of
procurement
Digital tools
Standardisation and
Interoperability
Assesment and
need
Execution
Delivery
Maintenance
and use
Digital Plan
of Work
Strategy
Foundations
Collaboration
Employers info
requirements
BIM execution plan
Master information
delivery plan
Common data
environment
Information
exchange
Strategy
Communication
Soft skills
Cooperation
Champion
Support
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Process
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Availability
Engage
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Software
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phase
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management
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commission
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business relationships
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systems
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Handover and
closeout
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tools
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checkers
File sharing and
collaboration
Surveys and
Reports
Videos
Events
Forums and user
groups
Social media
Blog posts
Books
Use of the Periodic Table of BIM
is governed by the terms and
conditions and licence at theNBS.com
CONTENTS
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
TAGLINE
< CONSTRUCTING A
BETTER FUTURE
THROUGH
INNOVATION AND
DIVERSITY p04
1
3
9
22
35
Bs
Fr
Co
Pr
Ca
4
10
23
36
48
Cu
Po
Fo
Di
St
11
24
37
HEAR FROM
THE UNIVERSITY
OF BOLTON’S
NOOSHIN AKRAMI
ON BRIDGING THE
GENDER DIVIDE
p06
As
Ex
De
49
Ma
12
Eir
25
Bep
38
Midp
50
Cde
The Periodic Table of BIM
13
Cm
26
39
51
So
Cp
Ci
14
27
40
52
In
Ch
Sh
Av
15
28
Ha
41
53
Sf
Tr
Fi
16
Cd
29
Op
42
Fm
54
Dg
17
30
43
Qu
55
Cl
Pt
Ds
5
18
31
44
Bsdd
56
Bt
Li
Pe
Ifc
6
Lod
19
32
Cafm
45
57
Cs
Pg
Au
7
20
An
33
Loi
Ct
46
Ad
58
Mo
FACT SHEET ISSUE 2· 05/2017
2
8
21
34
47
59
FACT SHEET
Su
Vi
Ev
Fu
Sc
Bl
ASBESTOS & CONSTRUCTION
APS are creating Fact Sheets on a range of key issues for construction risk management. For each topic, we will be
providing a concise, simplified overview: please refer to the provided sources of further information for full legal
provisions and additional technical detail. Electronic copies are available from www.aps.org.uk/fact-sheets/
1
mesothelioma,
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
Fibres are extremely small and durable.
Invisible to the naked eye, fibres reach the deepest parts of the lung. Cumulative asbestos exposures can cause
asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening (thickening of the lining of the lungs).
2
account
THESE
DISEASES
HAVE A
VERY LONG
LATENCY
PERIOD
ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS (ACMS) REMAIN
COMMON IN BUILDINGS BUILT/REFURBISHED BEFORE 2000.
Risk is associated with the ease of fibre release (friability)...
and exposure is via inhalation. Undisturbed asbestos products in good condition present no risk. ACMs vary in (a) the
proportion and type of asbestos used and (b) the other materials used in the mix and how they are bonded together.
The fo lowing table lists some common ACMs in approximate order of friability (a thorough assessment wi l take into
location, condition, surface treatments etc.).
FRIABILITY
3 ‘clean’
4 (such
40
UP TO
YEARS
It’s “everywhere”.
5000
APPROX WORKER DEATHS
PER YEAR FROM ASBESTOS
LOOSE FILL LAGGING
SPRAYED ASBESTOS (limpet)*: typically on beams, steelwork, etc
THERMAL INSULATION (‘hard set’ mixed on site or
pre-formed sections), typically on pipes, calorifiers, etc
ASBESTOS INSULATING BOARD (AIB):
< GETTING ALL
SCIENTIFIC AS WE
SHOWCASE THE
PERIODIC TABLE
OF BIM p26
18
ceiling tiles, firebreaks, soffits etc.
TEXTILES, GASKETS, PAPERS
TEXTURED COATINGS, applied to ceilings
ASBESTOS CEMENT, in corrugated sheets,
pre-formed moulded products (ducts, vents) etc.
FLOOR TILES, CISTERNS
NB.
REPUBLIC OF
IRELAND
< INTRODUCING
OUR NEW RANGE
OF FACT SHEETS
p18
Fibre release associated with
materials marked in red
is likely to be many orders
of magnitude greater than
that generated by the more
‘bonded products’.
It is a natura ly occurring mineral and was used on a massive scale because it was so effective as insulation. An
“asbestos-free” environment is not a realistic or useful specification as ‘wipe tests’ can locate asbestos fibres even in
environments (see note on “clearance” below).
Asbestos is an emotive subject...
20 TRADESMEN DIE
EACH WEEK (APPROX) AS A
RESULT OF PAST EXPOSURE
bu the perception that ‘one fibre ki ls’ is misleading and unhelpful. In most urban environments, we wi l be breathing
in asbestos fibres. There is no ‘safe’ limit of exposure but diseases are associated with cumulative, high-level exposures
as those that arise where construction employees work without appropriate controls).
FRIABILITY
08
60
Dpow
61
71
If
Sr
62
72
Sp
Digital Plan of Work stages
Bi
63
73
En
Df
64
Ir
74
Dn
65
75
Br
Bu
66
Am
76
Hn
67
Idm
77
Oe
Find support on your BIM journey at theNBS.com/BIM © Copyright RIBA Enterprises 2016
08
A LOWDOWN FROM THE
APS PRESIDENTIAL VISITS
APS President Bobby Chakravarthy, is
mid-way through a series of visits to
meet with APS members, APS regional
committee members, sector partners and
higher and further education institutions.
Read more.
16
HEAR FROM HSE’S HM
INSPECTOR, ADAM HILLS
Take a look into what happens in the
case of prosecution when a ‘typical
construction job’ goes wrong.
68
78
Sp
Ed
69
Fl
70
Bo
30
22
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
HAS BEEN HACKED
Read what lead up to the APS H&S
hackathon as well a round up of the event.
24
PAS 1192-6 ENABLING
CHANGE IN
CONSTRUCTION
Why PAS 1192-6 is helping revolutionise
the construction sector for the digital age.
FIRE SAFETY NOW
ADDED TO SUITE
OF SPECIALIST
KNOWLEDGE EXAM
SUBJECTS
Are you a CMaPS member
with exams to complete
before January 2018? If so,
why not have a go at this
new exam? – Page 05.
APS
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every care has been taken in the preparation of
this publication, the publishers cannot be held
responsible for the information herein, or for
any consequences arising from them.
03

UPDATE ISSUE 2· 06/2017
CEO’S FOREWORD
Welcome to your second edition of Project Safety Matters. From inclusion
and diversity to innovation in construction, this edition aims to be the voice of
good practice in design and construction health and safety risk management.
HAVE YOU heard the one about the
female bricklayer? Well maybe so, but
that’s because you are in design and
construction health and safety risk
management.
A few weeks ago, BBC Radio 4’s
Listening Project featured an interesting
conversation between two friends who
met on a bricklaying course. But, that
example aside, women in construction
are still few and far between and we have
some way to go to bridge the gender gap.
The stark reality is, only a handful of
workers on any building site are female.
We had hoped that, at the Association
for Project Safety, we might be faring a
little better, especially as female staff at
HQ outnumber Colin Seditas, our Policy
and Standards Manager, nine to one.
But, when we delved into our stats, male
members outnumbered female members
by a staggering eleven to one.
In keeping with the theme of inclusivity
and diversity, let’s move on to the topic
of gender equality, where again more
can be done. For some coming out as
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in
the construction industry may feel like
a challenge too far. So, I was pleased to
NEWS
read in this quarter’s magazine, articles on
female and LGBT workers in construction.
There is more from our President Bobby
Chakravarthy, about the exciting time we
had when ‘Big Bang’ met ‘Big Build’ at the
APS Hackathon in Manchester. It was an
exciting fusion and fascinating to see how
the world of digital innovation can help
professionals in design and construction
health and safety risk management
revolutionise the industry.
At APS HQ, we have started to roll out Fact
Sheets and information about topical issues
and changes. Take a look at our first topic
which will cover Asbestos. This edition
will also cover key features from the HSE,
as well as articles on BIM and PAS. There
are also updates answering your legal
questions on self-employment and dealing
with mental health issues in the workforce.
PAS UPDATE: HSE'S GORDON CRICK HAS PROVIDED US WITH
THE FOLLOWING UPDATE ON THE PRODUCTION OF PAS 1192-6
l Specification for collaborative sharing
and use of structured health and safety
information using BIM.
Following a successful call for industry
sponsorship, this new jointly funded
PAS is currently in production under the
ownership and direction of BSI, the British
Standards Institute. An initial base draft
was produced by the Technical Authors,
Nick Nisbet of AEC3, and Peter Nicholas
of ARUP. This draft was commented on
by the steering group, modified, and put
out for public consultation for a four
week period which finished at the end of
March. Over 450 individual comments were
received on this first draft, and the steering
group met on 12th April for a long day, to
consider these comments. The challenge
now is to take all these comments and
discussion on board. The Technical
The stark
reality is, only a
handful of workers
on any building
site are female.”
Authors have to revise the proposed
document, including the title, in a way
which makes it simpler to understand,
provides a good balance between process
and data considerations and provides
guidance on how the proposals should
be implemented. The steering group
did agree that the document should be
written as a Specification, rather than a
Code of Practice, in order to maximise the
likelihood of health and safety information
being generated, used and re-used, in a
common format, which will cross project
boundaries.
The proposed target date for publishing
the new PAS remains August/Sept 2017.
Please see page 24 for more info on
PAS1192-6 from APS President Bobby
Chakravarthy.
But, we don’t just write about it; your
APS is committed to providing tailored
CPD courses and this Project Safety
Matters has information about the
national programme we are delivering
as well as the activities you can find in
your region. You might even bump into
APS President Bobby Chakravarthy, on
his travels, as he is getting out and about
to meet as many of you as possible.
You can read more about some of the
recent President’s visits in this edition.
This year’s APS conference is in Cardiff
on 5 September and we hope to welcome
you there. It is always a good event and
has the added incentive of counting
towards your annual CPD total as well.
October marks the 10th edition of the
APS National CDM Awards, which will
be hosted at the historic Gibson Hall
in London’s Square Mile and our host
Piers Taylor has kindly given his sixtysecond
round up on why he thinks
the awards are not to be missed.
There is certainly a lot going on and more
to come. Read on and join the fun.
Lesley McLeod
APS CEO
Lesley McLeod
IIRSM WORKING WITH
RIBA TO CLARIFY THE
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
ROLE
l Confusion relating to
CDM 2015? IIRSM and
RIBA are running three
events designed to address
specific concerns and
provide practical advice on
dealing with the challenges
surrounding the regulations
and the role of the Principal
Designer. Our very own
Policy and Standards
Manager Colin Seditas,
will be speaking. To find
out more about dates and
venues or to register your
attendance visit, www.iirsm.
org/CDM2017 Use code
[APSCDM] to receive your
discount.
04

www.aps.org.uk
APS URGES MEMBERS TO SUPPORT
CASE STUDY PROJECT
UPDATE
COMMUNICATIONS
l Two years on, we still refer to CDM
2015 as the ‘new’ CDM. Many are feeling
more familiar with aspects of the
changes, but there remains a degree of
uncertainty and nervousness about what
the statutory roles ‘look like’ in practice.
The regulatory framework is intended to
be flexible: the focus is on outcomes and
proportionality, and each project needs
to be set up in a way that works for
the circumstances (and organisations)
at hand. There is not going to be a
‘one-size fits all’ definition of ‘the PD’.
Similarly, there will not be definitive
‘checklists’ that can, for example,
satisfactorily demonstrate significant
risks have been bottomed out. If
definitive answers are difficult to come
by, there’s no doubt that illustrative
practical examples would be useful…
We all want case studies, but despite
this fact, there are very few of them
about.
A CONIAC working group (facilitated
via Kevin Fear, CITB’s Health and
Safety Strategy Lead and APS Fellow)
is funding the development of short
case studies on risk management. The
aim is to produce a suite of very short
videos that get a clear ‘story’ across in a
concise manner. APS fully supports this
initiative: we see practical examples as
being essential for raising the profile of
design risk management in construction.
The project organisers are looking for
examples of all types of duty holders,
but APS members are uniquely placed
to showcase work as Designers, or
Principal Designers. All you need to do
is provide an outline of the situation to
CONIAC (APS can help with this), and
they will arrange the rest, including
organising filming and production.
CASE STUDIES WANTED
• Profile your expertise
• Contribute to raising standards
across the industry
• Help educate others on
design and construction
health and safety issues
We’ve uploaded a supporting guidance
document and an application form to
the APS website www.aps.org.uk/news/
aps-urges-members-support-case-studyproject.
The guidance document gives a basic
definition of the type of roles/examples
they are looking for. For example, in
the section on Principal Designers, the
guidance asks for good examples of work
during project setup, PCC and construction
phases and asks:
During pre-construction how did you:
• Ensure that H&S was embedded into the
design process?
• Involve end users in the design process?
Etc.
Any case study material, at any scale,
will prove useful. We would like to help
showcase effective approaches that
organisations have found. We are not
trying to showcase complexity; we want to
share examples of what works.
To get the process rolling, send a summary
of the situation to CONIAC on the
application form provided. APS HQ will
be happy to help with this process, so
please contact Colin Seditas, Policy and
Standards Manager if required.
Completed applications can be
sent directly to Kevin Fear at Kevin.
Fear@citb.co.uk, or via APS through
Colin.Seditas@aps.org.uk.
FREE LEGAL ADVICE
Members can email legal questions
or problems for consideration by our
construction Legal Advisors, Fladgate
LLP. This is a FREE service for most
members.
Email your enquiry to:
info@aps.org.uk
subject: Legal Advice
FREE TECHNICAL
HELPLINE
You can call the APS office to
register a Technical Helpline query
with our panel of experts, or for any
membership Enquiries.
Call: 0131 442 6600
LinkedIn
www.linkd.in/JKN7F3
More than 1,000 APS Members now
connect and share on the APS
LinkedIn page. We urge you to join
this growing community of APS
members. This is an invaluable forum
that allows you to connect with other
members, share problems,
experience and knowledge, and to
tap into important debates and issues
concerning the development of APS
and our role in the industry.
Twitter
@apstalk
If you have a Twitter account, follow
APS and receive all our news updates
and events information as we post
it. We now have over 1,100 followers
receiving our tweets and the numbers
are rising fast.
FIRE SAFETY NOW ADDED TO SUITE OF
SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE EXAM SUBJECTS
l ‘FIRE Safety in Construction’ is the
latest specialist knowledge exam to go
live on the APS website.
Construction sites present significant
potential for deaths, injuries and
financial losses where fire risks are not
managed appropriately. This exam
provides a rigorous challenge of an
individual’s knowledge of fire safety
in the construction context. Passing
the exam demonstrates a thorough
understanding of how fire risks can be
managed through effective site controls
and good design.
‘Fire Safety’ is the sixth specialist
knowledge topics to be made available
on the APS website. Any applicant
wishing to join at CMaPS level needs to
pass the Occupational Health exam and
any three other subjects as part of the
application process.
To take a specialist knowledge exam
visit www.aps.org.uk/sit-the-onlinecmaps-exams
05

DIVERSITY
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
WOMEN AND THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
With over 20 years’ experience as an architectural technologist,
we caught up with University of Bolton’s Nooshin Akrami on the
topic of women in the built environment
Nooshin Akrami
Nooshin, how did you get into the
field of architectural technology?
I developed an interest in studying
Architecture in my final year of high
school. My initial intention was to
study electronic engineering when I
chose to study maths and physics for
my A level (Iranian equivalent), but of
course, this changed along the way. My
understanding of the industry was limited,
and upon finishing school, I applied to
an advert looking for a draughtsperson.
I wrote back, expressing my interest in
working with them for three months
free of charge to learn the skills they
required, and thankfully I was given a
chance. The rest is history! I’ve worked
as an architectural technician, CAD
technician and then as an architectural
technologist. I worked with a number of
companies in Iran and later Turkey, before
migrating to the UK, by which time, I
was a qualified technologist by practice.
I have worked on a range of schemes
covering architectural, structural, highway
engineering and landscape design. I
completed a degree in Architectural
Technology which helped me with finding
my way into the UK construction industry.
You spent 20 years as a practitioner.
Tell us about one or two projects
that stand out for you.
My experience in Turkey was a highlight
in more ways than one. I learnt a new
language while studying construction
at the same time. During the final nine
months of my stay, I worked with an
award winning architect, Yavus Selim
Sepin. On my first day at the office, they
put me in charge of producing some
detailed drawings for a hotel project,
which the company had won through
an architectural competition. I created
eleven sheets of detailed drawings that
day. While this was not a challenge for
me in any way, my colleagues and my
boss were somewhat impressed by both
06
the quality and quantity of my work.
Another notable project I worked on
before leaving Istanbul was a competition
entry where I needed to produce graphics
and 3D models using building modelling
software, which I learnt to use in only
three days!
You made the change to lecturing.
Can you tell us why?
Changing to become an academic was
somewhat accidental and happened
organically. I lost my job in the
industry following the market crash
in the summer of 2008. I looked for
opportunities for a couple of months
after I was made redundant, and then
returned to education to complete
a Masters in Planning Sustainable
Environment. By that time, I was
delivering the occasional lecture in the
absence of a suitable tutor. I continued
to cover more design studio sessions at
the University of Bolton throughout my
Master’s studies.
I remember finishing my class at the
University of Salford as a student and
having to catch a train to Bolton to attend
my class in the evening as a tutor. After
graduation and while hunting for jobs
in the ‘Green’ industry, I was asked to
cover more structured teaching for the
entire semester, starting with 4.5 hours
per week in October 2010. By December
that same year I was covering 22 hours
of hours teaching per week. Seven years
later here I am, still at the University of
Bolton as a senior lecturer where I have
been a course leader since May 2011.
ABOUT WOMEN IN THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
What’s the division between male
and female students studying to
work in the built environment in
your institution? What about the
lecturers?
Although the demographic can
change from one year to the next,
the majority of students are male.
Architectural technology followed by
building and quantity surveying and
civil engineering are more popular
with female students, however, even
with these courses there are years that
some cohorts are completely male
dominated.
This is also representative of staff
gender diversity in the university.
We have had four female academic
members of staff in our School since
I started working for the university.
While there have been some changes,
regarding staff leaving and new
recruits, this number has stayed
constant, currently standing at 25% of
the staff compared to 15% (in October
2010). This increase in proportion is a
result of losing the male staff.
What are your views about the
gender gap in construction/the
built environment?
After completing my undergraduate
degree, I worked on a research project
for a short while with the Association
for Public Service Excellence. This
was a project aiming to promote the
roles of women and ethnic minorities
in construction-related employment
with local authorities and their
partners. My job was to contact local
authorities (and their partners) across
the UK and gather information about
construction-related staff diversity,
and subsequently to produce a
report and a list of the authorities
and employees to be praised, thus
encouraging further enhancement of
employee diversity. What I found was
that careers days revolved around
‘white British male’ staff, who went to
schools and spoke to ‘white British,
male’ students, about a potential
career in construction with local

DIVERSITY
authorities, housing associations,
etc. Clearly, the uptake could hardly
include female or ethnic minority
students if the first addressing was
narrowed down to ‘white British male’.
Centre: Nooshin Akrami with her students
There also seems to be an image issue
with the construction industry in the
UK. There is not enough promotion of
the value added by gender diversity,
and perhaps school authorities
lack knowledge about the range
of professions and roles within the
construction industry. Unless parents
are professionals within the built
environment, they are highly unlikely
to consider higher education or any
further education training for their
female children.
There are two further points to
consider here; first, that construction
is a vital industry contributing
substantially to the UK’s economy
and is a great industry to work in. It is
an industry that can change people’s
lives for the better; it creates spaces
to live, to work, to be entertained, to
be educated and to be treated for
ill-health. The industry builds roads,
railways and waterways; it brings
running water, electricity and internet
to our homes. Construction is the
industry which makes everything
we do a possibility and provides
opportunities to develop a career
contributing to making better places.
The second point, of course, is to
realise that we are responsible for
contributing to the sustainable
development and maintenance of our
assets. Leaving this to the skill-set
of the male demographic is not only
irresponsible, but it also deprives
females of the chance to thrive in an
exciting and interesting career path.
Is there any particular way you
address this with your students?
Students on our courses, male and
female, are almost there anyway. They
have made it to construction related
education, although perhaps somewhat
unaware of their value to the future of
our industry and perhaps how diverse the
opportunities can be. Our job is to bring
these issues to their attention, bring out
their talents, nurture their capabilities
and direct them to the paths where they
can truly realise their full potential.
Overall, do you feel the situation
is improving?
Unfortunately, I am not sure if it is.
There is a decline in uptake of a career
in the environment in general, which
potentially makes the female proportion
shrink even further. There are initiatives
by CITB, professional bodies, and
other organisations such as ‘Class of
Your Own’ with the DEC programme
(designengineerconstruct.com) to target
the younger generation at an earlier stage
in their life, and to plant the seed that a
career in the built environment is a viable,
exciting option.
We need to draw attention to how the
industry is changing in this digital age
and the possibilities this can bring to
individuals with a different skill set.
What are your thoughts on how to
improve the situation?
I think at a more strategic level; the
government should plan and account for
human resources more carefully. There
are interesting models to consider from
Scandinavian countries such as Finland,
where there is an emphasis on planning for
higher education allocations for instance.
CPD and education are currently pitched
to people who are already part of our
industry or have made some form of
commitment. There needs to be more
emphasis on education to young people
at an earlier stage in their career. I think
if the younger generation were made
aware of just how detrimental it would
be to lose the valuable services that our
industry provides, then they would take
a more proactive attitude towards their
education and career choices in general.
It is so easy to take the facilities we use
for granted: the roads we drive on, the
pavements we walk on, the parks where
we go for a walk in. It’s like having ten
fingers and ten toes, or like having our
senses. We only realise how important
they are once they’re gone!
Is there anything else you feel is
relevant or would like to say?
I have never personally considered myself
incapable of doing something based on
my gender. This is kind of interesting, as
I come from a country where a father
makes all the decisions for a daughter
before she meets her husband, and then
the husband makes all the decisions for
his wife as a woman. Clearly, I didn’t fit
that society; maybe it is because I had an
extremely open minded father. One of the
most profound lessons I learnt as a little
girl was that I had to learn skill sets that
would support me without relying on a
man to be the provider for my needs. The
construction industry is where I developed
some of those life enhancing skills, and
I am proud to be representing the industry.
Nooshin Akrami
Senior Lecturer, University of Bolton
07

REGIONAL
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
MEETING BOBBY CHAKRAVARTHY,
APS PRESIDENT
APS President Bobby Chakravarthy,
is nearly mid-way through a series of
visits to meet with APS members along
with the local APS regional committee
members, sector partners and people
from further and higher education.
The purpose was to hear directly from
our members about what they wanted
from APS so we can make sure we
are providing the services they need
and want.
It is also to make sure our sector
partners understand what APS does and
to find out more about what they do so
we can work in partnership to give all
our members more training and access
to information and knowledge.
NORTH WEST ENGLAND REGION
Manchester in March
Representatives from CABE, CIAT, IIRSM, IMeche and PASMA,
joined Bobby and Policy and Standards Manager, Colin Seditas. As
the conversation progressed it soon became clear that while each
organization has its own unique perspective, one of the strongest
things the organisations all have in common is a massive commitment
to keeping workers healthy and safe, and a willingness to share best
practice across the industry to make sure that happens.
L to R: Christine Leigh, Chair of CABE north west region;
Jason Carlton, Head of Strategic Engagement, PASMA and
Enterprise; Nooshin (see above), Bobby
YORKSHIRE REGION
Leeds in early April
Members’ experience of our service and their perception of the role of regional
committee was to the fore at this lunch. As APS Yorkshire members Julie Gelder,
John Nicholson and Steve Silver talked with Bobby, the emerging message was that
we don’t always tell you clearly or in the right way about the services we provide or
what the regions do.
REPUBLIC OF
IRELAND
This conversation was the final catalyst for us to prepare a comprehensive
members’ survey to find out what you want and need from us. This will be going
out to you very shortly to find out what you want and need, so please do fill it in.
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
Exeter in late April
This proved to be a fantastic opportunity
to discuss the nuts and bolts of
organizing and delivering high quality
regional CPD. Both Catherine Gandon,
Project Manager, Skills and Business
Development, RIBA, South West and
Charles Perryman, Chair, IIRSM South
West discussed ways to ensure quality
over quantity. Both re-iterated the
need for all of our organisations to work
together and one key outcome is that we
are now in early discussions to get some
fantastic joint events organised for later
in the year. Watch this space!
L to R: Julie Gelder, APS member; Mike
Stowell, Deputy Chair, APS Yorkshire Regional
Committee; John Nicholson, APS member
08
Foreground: (L) John Legge, Yorkshire
Regional Chair; (R) Ray Bone, APS Regional
Chair. Background; Steve Silver, APS member
and APS President Bobby Chakravarthy
L to R: Jason Sandland, Regional Chair, South
West England; Andrew Horton, APS member;
Bobby Chakravarthy, APS President

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CPD40
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
APS NATIONAL CPD:
AUTUMN SESSION
Morning Session: 09:00 – 12:00 Noon
Fire Safety and Timber Frame Developments, Gareth Pezzack – Falcon Fire
The 3-hour session will address fire
safety in timber frame developments
from a design risk management
perspective. Delegates will gain a
deeper understanding of the practical
implications of design decisions and the
key areas of concern when assessing
risk in this area. They will be given an
overview of the underpinning legal
framework and will know where to
find relevant guidance. Case studies
and practical examples will be used to
illustrate and consolidate learning points,
emphasising a proportionate,
unbureacratic approach.
Speaker
Gareth is the Managing Director at Falcon
Fire. He has 25 years’ experience in
working with fire safety and fire safety
systems.
Gareth’s background is in electrical
engineering and systems design. He is a
competent fire systems designer and has
worked on systems for the original Hinkley
Nuclear power station, various gas sites in
Scotland and many football stadiums.
Gareth now uses this knowledge and offers
consultancy on fire safety and specialises in
timber frame risk assessments.
CPD Points: 6
Delegates will gain a deeper
understanding of the practical
implications of design decisions and the
key areas of concern when assessing risk
in this area.”
Gareth Pezzack
Prices
SESSION APS MEMBER NON MEMBER APS LOYALTY CARD
Morning session only (No lunch) £85 £115 Free
Afternoon session only (No lunch) £85 £115 Free
Full day (Lunch included) £170 £230 £85
10

www.aps.org.uk
CPD40
Afternoon Session: 13:00 – 16:30
Effective design risk management: making expert advice count, Sue Farmer – Miradorus Ltd
Delegates will leave the session better
equipped to maximise impact and
influence in their roles as Principal
Designer, Specialist Consultant or
Specialist Adviser. The session will
explore various challenges faced by
those seeking to make a positive
impact on design and construction risk
management standards, including
• Coordinating, extracting information,
managing conflict within design teams
• Persuading clients, contractors,
designers
• Engaging with the disinterested /
hostile
Speaker
Sue Farmer will get you talking about
the issues that matter. An accomplished
communicator, Sue readily applies
her years of ‘hands-on’ experience
and excellent people leadership skills
to develop individuals and achieve
extraordinary results in both the product
and service arenas. Whether you need
to resolve or deliver a new strategy,
integrate processes, embed a new team,
resolve business issues or hit shareholder
targets, Sue can help your business
improve its performance.
At each session Sue will adapt the training
methods, based on your feedback,
constantly re-evaluating the model to
improve business performance through
effective communication, strategic focus
and implementation, innovation, team
building and conflict resolution.
A successful team is not just continually
lucky – they know what to do, when
to do it, who to do it with and how
to do it. Developing people and
empowering them to reach their
true potential is at the core of what
Miradorus and Sue believe in.
CPD Points: 6
Sue Farmer
These sessions will run across the UK, starting in September and finishing in November.
Booking will be available on the APS website in mid-June. You will be notified by email once the bookings are officially
open.
Helping you change the
perception of health & safety
20-22
June 2017
ExCeL London
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11

APS AWARDS
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
SIXTY-SECOND INTERVIEW WITH
APS AWARDS HOST PIERS TAYLOR
Avid fan of ‘The House That
£100k Built’? Then you
will undoubtedly recognise
Piers Taylor.
PIERS IS an award winning architect,
broadcaster and academic. He
co-presents the successful BBC2 Series,
The House that £100k built with
Kieran Long, which demonstrates to
selfbuilders how to do more, with
less. The opening episode drew close
to 3 million viewers – a first for an
architectural TV series. The third series
has just been transmitted. Piers also
co-presented the hit spin-off series,
Tricks of the Trade also on BBC2. Piers
has been called ‘one of the brightest
architects in the profession’ and has
designed a number of seminal buildings,
including the RIBA Award Winning
‘Room 13’ and the house ‘Moonshine’
which won the AJ Small Project Award.
His built work has been published
extensively and internationally, and
typically pushes boundaries in terms of
cost, technique and process.
He is known for his resourceful ‘thinking
outside of the box’ and his challenging
of mainstream convention in architecture
and in education. He has founded two
architectural practices, Mitchell Taylor
Workshop and Invisible Studio. He is a
former Design Fellow at the University
of Cambridge, and a Studio Master at
London’s Architectural Association. He
has also founded a number of educational
programs including the annual Studio in
the Woods.
Piers is widely engaged in a number
of topical architectural issues,
and contributes regularly to many
architectural journals including the
Architects’ Journal. He has also written
for Blueprint, Building Design and the
Architectural Review.
We made the most of our minute with
Piers, here is our sixty-second interview
centred around the upcoming awards.
Why does hosting the APS awards
appeal to you?
Health and safety is really important as
12
The opening
episode [of
The House that
£100k Built] drew
close to 3 million
viewers – a first for
an architectural
TV series.”
instead of being an inconvenient addon,
the constraints of how something is
designed and constructed really adds
to design.
You have a vast amount of
experience within design and
you are well known for thinking
outside of the box. What can our
guests at dinner look forward to
hearing from you?
Hopefully the evening will be a
celebration of pushing boundaries in
design in construction!
Piers Taylor
Part of the APS National Awards
are the National Student Designer
awards, what advice would you
give to Students about making the
transition from higher education
to workplace?
You’re inventing the future, and you may
face opposition to new ways of doing
things but stay idealistic and recognise
that design can change the world.
What do you like most about the
work that you do?
It’s always experimental and the logistics
of how something complex can actually
be achieved in a safe way is always
exciting
Finally, what do you think the future
of construction health and safety
looks like?
Much more embedded into the core of
design. I think that the welfare of the
entire team will become something that
architects and designers will continue to
embrace.

www.aps.org.uk
APS AWARDS
CATCHING UP WITH
DANNY COOMBER FROM
BUTLER AND YOUNG
Danny Coomber is a Director at Butler and Young. Returning
to the National CDM and Student Designer Awards as a
sponsor for the second year in a row, here he tells us why he
chooses to get involved with the scheme year-on-year, and
why seeing young professionals involved in the awards is so
important to him.
Danny Coomber
Why do you choose to sponsor
the APS Student Designer
Awards?
At Butler and Young, we’re APS
accredited CDM trainers, and were
looking to engage with those working
in construction. We like to share
our messages and encourage these
conversations with professionals in the
earlier stages of their career, helping
them to embrace the principles of
healthy design and creative safety, as an
embedded integral part of everything
they do. We see sponsoring the Student
Designer Awards as recognising the
younger generations’ input to future
health and safety.
You’ve sponsored the awards
before and have chosen to do so
again this year – why?
Last year we wanted to start making an
impact beyond our day-to-day business
and give special recognition where it is
deserved to those doing their best to
make a difference to health and safety.
We were so impressed with the quality
of the entries last year and in particular,
the finalists, that we decided to give this
award our continued support.
Not only that, we believe the National
CDM and Student Designer Awards
celebration event, including the House
of Commons reception and the actual
awards evening gala dinner, is a highclass
event and one of the best we have
ever been involved with; we want our
brand aligned with this level of excellence.
What do you think the benefits
are of sponsoring the Student
Designer Awards?
This is an interesting question. For the
students that enter, it is an opportunity
for early career recognition of their
contribution to health and safety. Plus,
the award is free for them to enter, so
it’s budget friendly on a student bank
account.
For the industry, it’s great to have this
level of recognition; bringing young blood
into the fold, as we are often seen to be a
little set in our ways and not so innovative
or youthful, so to speak.
For Butler and Young, it’s recognition that
we believe in what we do for the wider
industry. We practice what we teach and
teach what we practice.
What’s the highlight of the awards
evening for you?
For me it is spending time with the
finalists, their families and their guests.
They are often quite nervous as well as
excited, and when the award winners are
finally revealed, the nerves leave and only
their excitement remains. They become
recognised, early in their careers, in an
industry that must have initially looked very
daunting. I see them make their first step
into an exciting career with some certainty
that they can make it to the top if they
chose to. It’s a very special moment.
What would you say to anyone
considering sponsoring the
awards this year?
Ah, all the awards are so worth sponsoring.
You should seriously consider it! You may
personally benefit from being a sponsor,
but, you will definitely benefit those
entering your award too. You also benefit
the industry as a whole and that… feels
good to do.
As a sponsor, APS makes you feel special
as well; it’s great to think we’re working
collaboratively together to help kickstart
some of the students’ careers while
showing others in the industry what
inspirational best practice is all about.
Danny Coomber
Director Butler & Young Consultants
We sponsor
the Student
Awards to invest
in the future talent
of our industry.
It’s always
great to see the
enthusiasm and
excitement the
students have to
turn their ideas
into realistic
proposals.”
13

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L098 02/17

www.aps.org.uk
ADDRESSING THE SKILLS
SHORTAGE THROUGH
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
DIVERSITY
Christina Riley, Founder of LGBT Construct, discusses the impact of Brexit on
UK construction, the importance of a dynamic skilled workforce, and why we must
change the culture of the industry through collaboration on the diversity agenda.
THE GOVERNMENT has triggered
Article 50 and Brexit is now on the
cards, but what will be the lasting
impact on the UK construction
and infrastructure sectors? Recent
studies suggest that with the aging
demographic of the nation, the skills
shortage will increase, and Brexit can
only add to the problem of insufficient
numbers of available construction
managers, consultants, designers, and
operatives.
However, the industry is waking up to
the reality of not only having to adapt
and change in order to attract more
qualified people into the sector, but
also to develop and retain those people.
Large scale projects like Crossrail,
High Speed 2 and Thames Tideway
are demanding that main contractors
address the skills shortage.
Having a dynamic skilled workforce
for the future means the industry
has had to address the diversity and
inclusion agenda. Only around 11% of
the workforce are women, and only
around 3% of women are out on site.
Yet the working population is 51%
women. Companies like Balfour Beatty
are addressing this issue with back to
work schemes, as well as supporting
staff with Affinity Networks like their
‘Women in Business’ Affinity Group.
This initiative is bringing more women
into the industry, and changing the
image of construction for apprentices
and graduates who are beginning to
see it as a more inclusive sector.
As a transgender woman who has
worked in the industry for over 24 years,
this is a welcome change. The ‘LGBT &
Allies’ Network at Balfour Beatty has
given me the opportunity to be my
authentic self while keeping my job as
a site based planner, as well as opening
new doors of opportunity.
The feedback from clients, colleagues,
contractors and the supply chain
has been largely positive to the
work in this area and this has been
demonstrated through the Diversity
Toolbox talks which are held on site to
both professional teams and site staff.
By changing the culture of the industry
through collaboration on the diversity
agenda, the skills shortage can be
addressed. The CIOB, RICS and RAEng
have all recently tackled the diversity
agenda through talks and focus groups.
Main Contractors are forming alliances
with each other through networks
like Off Site; #BuildingEquality and
InterEngineering.
Only through a shift in culture will the
industries skills shortage be addressed;
we need to embrace inclusivity which
will enable us to attract candidates from
a much wider talent pool.
The industry must stand up to Theresa
May to ensure that Brexit doesn’t
prevent people from these groups being
recruited or retained from the widest
possible pool of talent, including people
from Europe.
Christina Riley
was recently
shortlisted
for the British
LGBT Awards
Corporate Rising
Star Category
for her work
in promoting
grassroots LGBT
diversity in
construction as
well as winning the CECA Inspiring
Change Award in 2016. Christina is
chair of the Balfour Beatty LGBT
& Allies Network and founded the
‘LGBT Construct’ network that
reaches out to support grass roots
LGBT people into construction, but
also educates leadership to drive
change and to be more inclusive.
www.ukconstructionweek.com
15

HSE
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
HSE: PROSECUTING A
‘TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION
JOB’ GONE WRONG
APS has been speaking to HSE’s HM Inspector, Adam Hills, about his
construction prosecution case that concluded earlier this year.
Adam Hills
THREE COMPANIES were fined after a
worker fell over seven meters through a
fragile roof and it appears to us that the
worker is extremely lucky not to have
died. We talked with Adam about the
circumstances surrounding this incident,
but we were particularly interested in
looking for wider lessons that might
be learned. It is worth noting that the
case was taken under the CDM 2007
regulations, which were in force at the
time. After talking to Adam, we also
wanted to consider the impact CDM 2015
may have on situations of this kind.
Adam worked in HSE’s Construction
Division for 8 years, based at the
Chelmsford office in Essex. It is an
unfortunate fact of life that much of an
inspector’s time is spent investigating
situations that have gone wrong and Adam
was keen to publicise the facts of this case.
“I’m very happy to talk about cases like
this”, he explained. “I want to spread the
message as far and wide as possible”.
This case deals with what we might think
of as a ‘typical’ small construction job: an
overview is described in the table below
for the purposes of discussion.
As a result of Adam’s investigation, the
PC was found guilty of offences under
CDM 2007 and the two contractors were
found guilty of offences under the Work
at Height Regulations.
It is clear that work at height needs to be
appropriately planned and carried out by
appropriately trained and supervised staff:
there is a well-defined hierarchy of controls
to consider and ‘verbal warnings’ are not
a suitable control measure. However, in
talking to Adam, APS’ thoughts also turn
to the pre-construction phase for small
construction projects and the interfaces
between clients, contractors and designers.
From an APS perspective, cases like this
help illustrate:
• The client’s role in selecting suitably
experienced contractors
• The need for pre-construction
information to highlight problematic
areas
• The need for advanced consideration
when designing-out risks
In general terms, CDM 2015 now puts much
more emphasis on the client’s duties. A
client can exert very strong influence, at the
head of the procurement chain. In Adam’s
view, a ‘client’s brief’ can be a very effective
way of outlining expectations on all parties.
Clients aren’t expected to be experts,
but we think it is reasonable for them to
appoint contractors who can demonstrate
successful completion of similar projects in
the past.
In addition, Adam talked about the
designer role in CDM 2015. In relation
to designing access for work at height,
‘eliminating, reducing and controlling
risks’ should mean that any ‘problematic’
work areas are addressed well before
construction activities start.
It was encouraging to hear that, from
Adam’s perspective, industry has made
significant improvements in recent years.
For example, he has noticed that the
smaller construction projects tend to
be able to demonstrate higher levels of
training and awareness. He also points
to the good tools and guidance that is
available now for smaller contractors
(such as the CITB guidance and the
‘CDM Wizard’ app). However, there is
recognition that much more needs to be
done: small projects remain ‘hard to reach’.
Adam hopes prosecutions like this will
provide a wake-up call to others: “It is not
acceptable to carry out work in this way
and HSE will take enforcement action. “
Adam Hills, HM Inspector,
Health and Safety Executive
Client
PC
Contractor 1
Contractor 2
A (non-construction) business wanted to replace a warehouse’s asbestos cement roofing. The fragile roof sheets
needed to be cleaned to allow access to the fixings and subsequent removal. The client used a CDM-C and employed
additional services to provide assurance checks on health and safety aspects of the project.
The PC was a contractor well-known to the client and frequently used for a range of maintenance activities. The PC
did not have experience of such roofing work and obtained a number of quotes on behalf of the client, who chose
Contractor 1. As the PC didn’t have sufficient relevant experience they were unable to fulfil PC duties effectively.
Contractor 1 provided equipment and a working method (and a supervisor during the work). Much of the work
was subcontracted to a second contractor. An additional specialist contractor was employed to provide access
scaffolding and netting. Contractor 1 and the specialist had drawn attention to areas (c.40% of the roof) that could
NOT be netted – there was a reliance on verbal briefings to address this.
Contractor 2 provided labour (5 men in total). The method for dealing with ‘problematic’ areas of the roof was not
thoroughly planned. The worker had moved off provided decking and was not connected to any fall arrest system,
when he fell through a sheet. He fell over seven metres hitting pipework, machinery and equipment.
16

www.aps.org.uk
NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2017
SAVE THE DATE:
IT’S A CONFERENCE
NOT TO BE MISSED
APS Policy and Standards Manager, Colin Seditas gives us
a round-up of what you can expect from the APS National
Conference 2017
Anyone involved
in design and
construction risk
management needs to
stay abreast of current
thinking and methods.”
Colin Seditas
Booking will open mid-
June, so please visit
www.aps.org.uk/apsnational-conference-2017
Can you tell us a little about this
year’s National Conference?
On 5 September we are looking forward
to being hosted at another fantastic
venue: The Welsh School of Music in
Cardiff. We are bringing together a wide
range of industry experts and interested
parties, all helping to make good design
and construction risk management
really matter. Our sessions will focus on
how we innovate and collaborate.
We now run Conference as a concentrated
one-day event, making it easier (and
cheaper) for members to attend.
Why should APS members attend?
Professionals with an interest in design
risk management and constructionrelated
health and safety management
always find Conference both enjoyable
and illuminating.
The conference is intended to be a
friendly, welcoming environment and
a natural place to meet and network
with like-minded professionals. Through
formal sessions and informal networking
with peers, members make contacts,
discover best practice and good ideas (a
full day at Conference is worth 12 CPD
points).
Most importantly, APS is a memberdriven
organisation: the conference is
the ideal place to get involved and meet
Directors, Councillors and APS staff.
What will delegates take away
from the day?
The conference is a showcase of good
ideas, good practice and thoughtprovoking
debate.
Why is attending and keeping
up to date with current topics
important?
CDM requires a creative, proportionate
and sensible approach: anyone
involved in design and construction risk
management needs to stay abreast of
current thinking and methods.
The conference is the perfect vehicle.
We look forward to seeing you there.
17

FACT SHEET ISSUE 2· 06/2017
FACT SHEET
ASBESTOS & CONSTRUCTION
APS are creating Fact Sheets on a range of key issues for construction risk management. For each topic, we provide
a concise, simplified overview: please refer to the provided sources of further information for full legal provisions
and additional technical detail. Electronic copies are available from www.aps.org.uk/fact-sheets/
1
mesothelioma,
2
account
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
Fibres are extremely small and durable.
Invisible to the naked eye, fibres reach the deepest parts of the lung. Cumulative asbestos exposures can cause
asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening (thickening of the lining of the lungs).
THESE
DISEASES
HAVE A
VERY LONG
LATENCY
PERIOD
UP TO
40
YEARS
ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS (ACMS) REMAIN
COMMON IN BUILDINGS BUILT/REFURBISHED BEFORE 2000.
Risk is associated with the ease of fibre release (friability)...
and exposure is via inhalation. Undisturbed asbestos products in good condition present no risk. ACMs vary in (a) the
proportion and type of asbestos used and (b) the other materials used in the mix and how they are bonded together.
The following table lists some common ACMs in approximate order of friability (a thorough assessment will take into
location, condition, surface treatments etc).
5000
APPROX WORKER DEATHS
PER YEAR FROM ASBESTOS
20 TRADESMEN DIE
EACH WEEK (APPROX) AS A
RESULT OF PAST EXPOSURE
LOOSE FILL LAGGING
SPRAYED ASBESTOS (limpet)*: typically on beams, steelwork, etc.
18
3 ‘clean’
4 (such
FRIABILITY
THERMAL INSULATION (‘hard set’ mixed on site or
pre-formed sections), typically on pipes, calorifiers, etc.
ASBESTOS INSULATING BOARD (AIB):
ceiling tiles, firebreaks, soffits etc.
TEXTILES, GASKETS, PAPERS
TEXTURED COATINGS, applied to ceilings.
ASBESTOS CEMENT, in corrugated sheets,
pre-formed moulded products (ducts, vents) etc.
FLOOR TILES, CISTERNS
NB.
Fibre release associated with
materials marked in red
is likely to be many orders
of magnitude greater than
that generated by the more
‘bonded products’.
It’s ‘everywhere’.
It is a naturally occurring mineral and was used on a massive scale because it was so effective as insulation. An
‘asbestos-free’ environment is not a realistic or useful specification as ‘wipe tests’ can locate asbestos fibres even in
environments (see note on ‘clearance’ below).
Asbestos is an emotive subject...
but the perception that ‘one fibre kills’ is misleading and unhelpful. In most urban environments, we will be breathing
in asbestos fibres. There is no ‘safe’ limit of exposure but diseases are associated with cumulative, high-level exposures
as those that arise where construction employees work without appropriate controls).
FRIABILITY

www.aps.org.uk
FACT SHEET
KEY LEGISLATION: CONTROL OF ASBESTOS REGULATIONS 2012 (CAR 2012)
The ‘duty to manage’
Good quality asbestos data is a critical component of preconstruction
information. The client will typically have a ‘duty
to manage’ asbestos and an asbestos survey is the starting
point for effective management arrangements. Fit-for-purpose
information must reach those needing it and this information
must be kept up to date: this helps ensure inadvertent
exposure is prevented.
Prior to any works liable to disturb the fabric of a building,
a ‘demolition/refurbishment’ survey should thoroughly
investigate the area. This will typically involve intrusion into
voids, partitions etc. and the analysis of a carefully selected
range of sample materials.
SURVEY
A survey needs to gather accurate
information (relevant to the task /
location / premises at hand) to inform
management plans / project designs.
SURVEYOR(S)
The surveyor(s) should have
experience of surveying premises
of similar types and complexity.
ORGANISATION
The surveying organisation
will have robust quality control
arrangements.
Working with asbestos
The key legal provisions of CAR 2012 apply to ALL work with
asbestos:
• Assess risk prior to undertaking any work.
• Plan the work. Written plans are required: concise, practical
instructions that site teams can follow / be measured
against. (The Asbestos Essentials task manual illustrates a
reasonable level of detail for simple, non-licensed work.)
• Adequate training for the specific role (‘awareness’ for those
liable to come into contact; practical training in controls /
methods for anyone working with asbestos).
• Prevent (or reduce) exposure and spread, so far as
reasonably practicable.
A distinction is made between licensed work (LW) and nonlicensed
work (NLW). LW can only be done by organisations
holding a HSE licence and has a statutory 14-day (minimum)
notification process. It may be useful to assume that any work
with asbestos requires the services of a specialised, licensed
contractor unless an assessment demonstrates otherwise
(Asbestos Essentials illustrates the kinds of simple activities
where a licence is NOT required). Before LW is notified, a
written plan of work must be prepared. Making amendments
after notification may not be straightforward. Liaison between
relevant parties at the planning stage will avoid costly delays.
PRACTICAL CONTROLS FOR WORK WITH ASBESTOS
Minimise disturbance
Control at source
RPE & PPE and
decontamination
Segregation and containment
‘Clearance’
Work areas clean. Gentle removal, as far as reasonably practicable, with minimal breakage.
E.g. ‘Wet’ removal, H-class vacs with cowls.
FFP3 filters. Half-masks for setting up and non-licensed work and full-face air-fed
respirators for licensed work. Clearly defined decontamination procedures (incorporating
purpose built decontamination units for licensed work).
Full enclosures (under negative pressure) are standard for licensed work. In all cases:
enclosures, semi-enclosures, sheeting where reasonably practical.
LW receives independent verification that areas can be reoccupied (‘clearance’). In ‘difficult
to clean’ situations (e.g. lathe and plaster in voids, asbestos sprayed onto porous surfaces
etc), it is particularly important for parties to define the standards of cleanliness at the
planning stage to avoid disputes and delays.
LINKS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
1. L143 Managing and Working With Asbestos: Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l143.pdf
2. HSE’s ‘Asbestos: where it hides’: www.hse.gov.uk/Asbestos/building.htm
3. HSE’s Asbestos Portal: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos
4. Asbestos Essentials: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials
5. Trade Associations:
a. Asbestos Removal Contractor’s Association (ARCA): www.arca.org.uk
b. Thermal Insulation Contractors Association: Asbestos Containment and Abatement Division (ACAD): www.tica-acad.co.uk
c. Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association (ATaC): www.atac.org.uk
d. UK Asbestos Training Providers Association: www.ukata.org.uk
19

GUEST BLOG
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT
SCAFFOLDING COMPANY
Tarak Turki
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
ARE YOU after a scaffolding company
to assist with your new construction
project? There are many companies
around, and it can be confusing as
to which one to pick for your needs.
If this is the case for you, then this
article will support you in making the
right decision.
Many factors should be considered
when selecting a scaffolding supplier
and whatever your scaffolding
requirements are, be it for building,
rendering or roofing, the following
factors should be present when
considering what company you should
opt for.
Health and safety
When considering what company
you should choose, health and safety
is one of the most important factors
that you should consider. It is always
recommended that you choose a
company that follows the current safety
guidelines in your area.
Training
All scaffolding companies who provide
their services in the UK must ensure that
their employees receive the appropriate
training in this field to deliver efficient
and safe services.
Make sure that the company that you are
looking to deal with is certified and that
their employees are well trained.
Insurance
Any scaffolding company trading in the
UK must ensure its scaffolders have the
necessary employers’ liability insurance.
The onus is on you to make sure that any
company you are dealing with meets this
requirement. Not only must you check
that the company is insured, but that
workers are also covered. This means
you can rest assured that in the event of
accident or damage, to either an individual
or to your property, because of the
scaffolding company’s work, then there
will be insurance to cover losses.
Experience
Like in any industry, experience counts
for a lot especially when it comes to more
complicated scaffolding construction that
requires experience to ensure the best and
safest job. Make sure that your choice of
company has the relevant experience in the
construction type you are looking to fulfil.
Budget
Cost can massively differ from one
company to another. However, defining
your budget will help a lot. Make sure you
get more than one quote before making
your choice and ensure that the company
you select offers professional services at a
reasonable price.
Tarak Turki, Digital Marketing Executive,
currently providing services for
cooperscaffolding.co.uk
Help drive the future of your APS
APS elections 2017
Annual elections for regional
committees take place at the end of
June.
Elections period: 29th June - 14th July
More: www.aps.org.uk/aps-elections-2017
20

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APS Hackathon
The digital future of health and safety
With Hack_Construct
@APStalk #hackAPS
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
APS President, Bobby Chakravarthy provides his round up
of the APS Health and Safety Hackathon.
ALERT: CONSTRUCTION
SAFETY HAS BEEN HACKED
Bobby Chakravarthy
When Ryan and Darren, co-founders of
Hack_Construct, approached me at a Dot
built environment board meeting about
possibly doing a hackathon in construction
I wanted to know more. I had only ever
heard about hackathons in tech circles and
to be honest my perception was that they
were a bit geeky. I now fully admit I was
wrong! Ryan and Darren schooled me on
all things hackathon, and my reservations
disappeared in an instant.
Schooling up on hackathons
For those of you who have never heard
of a hackathon before, they are an
intensive coming together of industry
experts, those in tech and those who love
to innovate. They are a feeding ground
for new ideas; they provide a venue for
self-expression and creativity through
engagement and use of technology.
At a hackathon, participants are split into
groups with a diverse skill-set. They come
together to work on a particular problem
or concept; some teams opting to work
solely on conceptualisation while others
take their idea to a working prototype;
this takes the shape of coding a unique
solution from scratch. (Generally, this
is in the form of a website, applications,
apps, and other digital solutions.)
Getting into gear
After my meeting with Ryan and Darren,
it was evident to me how impactful this
type of event could be for an industry
like construction. I could see how it
would help attract a pool of talent
from completely different industries
(i.e. tech, gaming and construction)
to come together to form ideas and
develop digital tools and products.
It also had the potential to attract
the younger generation through
digital technology. To further add a
layer of complexity to the challenge
we thought, why not do it for the
health and safety in construction?
22
When I floated the idea about running a
hackathon to APS HQ they immediately
saw potential. Two things we were sure
about was that 1. It would be fun 2. That
it would require a lot of work - we were
not wrong! A significant amount of time,
effort and planning goes into not only
setting up an event but also making sure
it runs smoothly. For a venue, we opted
for MadLab in Manchester’s northern
quarter which provided the right mix of
buzz and talent.
The biggest challenge we encountered
was in making sure there was enough
interest to make the event a success.
We wanted to make sure that the
participants got a lot out of attending;
they were giving up their entire
weekend after all. Pre-event we worked
with our sponsors Waterstons, IET and
Hack_Construct to gather interest and
momentum for the event.
At the event
When the day finally arrived, to our
surprise and relief, we had a better than
anticipated turnout. We had a good
mix of the tech community (45%),
construction community (50%) and a
combination of both (5%).

On the Friday night there was a chance
to network with attendees before we set
the challenge. Some of us headed to
bed and some of us continued chatting
well into the early hours.
When I arrived on Saturday morning at
8 am there were teams already getting
on with coding, setting up VR modules
and working on their solutions. It was
unbelievable to see such a diverse group,
each with different strengths, all working
incredibly well together, supporting each
other, collaborating, and working hard on
producing positive outcomes.
By the first briefing on Saturday
afternoon, all the teams had a clear
idea of their development plans. The
ideas ranged from data science to
game development. There was mentor
support throughout the event working
with the groups and assisting them with
development plans. DotBE provided
assistance with creative engagement.
The hacking continued throughout the
Saturday night for some teams with little
or no sleep to meet the presentation
deadlines on Sunday afternoon. On
Sunday there was a sense of urgency
and commitment with everyone trying
to finish their product on time for the
upcoming presentation session.
At the final presentation/pitch, I was
amazed at the calibre of hacks; truly
outstanding solutions and utterly
inspired given the short timeline for
development.
Best Overall Prize went to Team “AA”
for developing a straightforward and
effective mobile-based application for
anonymous alerting of potential dangers
on site with built-in automatic escalating
procedures.
Summing up
The APS hackathon was a hothouse of
creative activity due to the intensive
nature of the process; participants quickly
took their idea from visionary concept
to actionable solutions, and we were
thoroughly impressed.
1. Process – Transforming existing health & safety management processes
through new digital solutions
2. Data Management – Utilise technologies to capture/automate/validate
health & safety data delivery
3. Safe Design – Utilise the power of open data networks to design and build
safer buildings.
4. Immersive Technologies – Reduce risk and improve building safety
through the use of immersive technologies.
By the end of the evening, teams began to form with a diverse mix of
individuals around common interests, strengths and ideas. Some of them very
soon narrowed down on outcomes other continued the dialogue into the night
about possible solutions.
• Best Technical prize was given out
to team “Vertigo” for a developing
Virtual Reality (VR) tool using
gaming technology for site based
hazard training for operatives.
• Best Pitch was awarded to
“Digital Rams” for creating
data environment to cut out
bureaucracy and putting
up-to-date, relevant safety
information on mobile devices.
I have to mention the other
teams which didn’t win a prize
were equally good, thus posing
a challenge for the judging panel
when deciding on our winners.
Personally, one important take away from
the event is that collaboration equates to
success. If a group of professionals who
have never met before can achieve such
outstanding results in such a short space
of time, just imagine the impact we would
have on construction and health and
safety in particular if this was repeated on
regular basis within constructing teams
and projects. We at APS believe that
digital collaborative tools and processes
such as BIM can add value to the process
and perhaps save lives in the construction
industry. For that reason, we will continue
to engage with the industry and bring
them together to discuss, debate and
innovate within the industry.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
23

BIM
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
PAS 1192-6: ENABLING
CHANGE IN CONSTRUCTION
IT’S IMPORTANT at APS that we firmly
stand behind every opportunity with
capabilities that can support a change in
a positive direction and create an impact
on construction health and safety. APS
has been part of BIM4Health and Safety
group since its inception in 2014 when
the current evolution of BIM was still a
relatively new concept and particularly
in the health and safety sector. However,
we recognised the importance of
technology and its development, in not
only enabling the digitisation of the
construction processes but also adding
greater value in making it safer, by way
of better collaboration among all parties
in the construction process.
We also saw coherence, that is,
alignment between the APS strategic
vision to make construction healthier
and safer for all, the capabilities to
deliver on that strategy, and the
alignment with the APS products and
services that would enable us to drive
forward the vision.
We see the evolution of PAS 1192-6 from
this group which is the ‘specification
for collaborative sharing and use of
structured hazard and risk information
for health and safety’ as a collaborative
effort to develop digital processes
which sets out how health and safety
information can be identified, shared
and used by all the stakeholders in the
construction process, from inception to
completion.
Can BIM help health and safety?
Fundamentally, the purpose of BIM is
to ensure that appropriate information
is created in a suitable format at the
right time so that better decisions
can be made throughout the design,
construction and operation of built assets.
It is not about creating a 3D model for its
own sake, and it is not an add-on process.
BIM is fundamental to the way a project is
set up and run, and it is about developing
a functional information model which can
include spaces, material, equipment and
substances.
The real opportunities in the BIM process
can only be realised if the information
24
The real
opportunities
in the BIM process
can only be realised
if the information
model is accurate,
appropriate and
has all the relevant
information tagged.”
model is accurate, appropriate and
has all the relevant information
tagged so that it can be can be
thoroughly investigated to enhance the
management of health and safety of the
project. This also allows the Principal
Designers, Designers, Contractors and
other duty holders under the regulations
to explore the model throughout the
design stage for any inherent risks
and mitigate them before reaching the
construction stages. It is also the ability
to share the data whether mitigated or
outstanding with all the other parties
in the design and construction of the
project in a clear and transparent
way enabling better collaboration in
managing and reducing risk effectively.
The opportunities don’t end there;
there are supplementary tools and
software out there which can be used
in the BIM environment to enhance
health and safety. For example, Virtual
Reality can be used for offsite training
in the identification of hazards and will
provide a better understanding and
management of risks before construction
is started on-site. 4D programming can
assist in project planning, sequencing
and logistics. In the long term, BIM
would also help in preventing accidents
throughout the lifecycle of the
management of the building and its
operation. Data gathered during the
design and construction stages of the
project can be passed on to clients
and their facilities management teams
to have a clear understanding of any
residual risks, substances and to put
in place management procedures to
manage them effectively throughout the
lifecycle of building occupation.
How can PAS 1192-6 enable change?
Most advanced digitally enhanced
projects are already using BIM as
a delivery vehicle to improve the
design and construction process. The
PAS 6 builds on such current good
practices by enabling and enshrining
health and safety into the common
standards for delivering the project
using digital construction. Despite the
general argument that there would
be an eventual demise of BIM, the
enthusiasm for delivering construction
projects using technology and digital
innovation is continuing to evolve and
mature, as more and more projects are
realised and lessons learnt are captured.
We believe PAS 6 will provide a clear
and transparent pathway by clearly
leveraging the safety benefits at the
early stages of the design process by
mitigating and designing out risk at
the source. For that reason, APS have
been an integral and vital part of the
development of this document through
BIM4Health and Safety Group and
by co-sponsoring and co-funding the
development of this document alongside
HSE and other industry partners.
The draft document was published for
comments through public consultation
which has now come to an end. We thank
the industry for all the feedback and
comments received. At the last steering
group (April) organised by the British
Standards Institute (BSI) of which APS is
a part of, all the comments were analysed
and thoroughly discussed. The final
document is scheduled to be published
as new PAS in August/
September 2017.
Bobby Chakravarthy
APS President
Bobby Chakravarthy

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BIM
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
INTRODUCING THE
PERIODIC TABLE OF BIM
APS caught up with Stefan Mordue who introduced us to the concept
of the Periodic Table of BIM
Stefan Mordue
TAKING INSPIRATION from the traditional
periodic table of elements, NBS recently
launched a visual guide to the key
terms and concepts you’re likely to
encounter along the road towards BIM
implementation and would like to share
this with APS members.
In the Periodic Table of BIM, we
document the stages necessary for
closer collaboration (of process and
people) by way of the technology,
standards and enabling tools that
will underpin your efforts.
The original table, published by Russian
chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869,
managed to organise 112 named elements
(and acknowledge several unnamed
ones) using strict rules and hierarchy. Our
version sticks to a few guiding principles
but is a less rigid affair – broken down into
nine groupings with a number of elements
in each.
The table is designed to be a useful
reference, ideal to print out and stick on a
wall or share digitally, and should prompt
thinking about areas of BIM-readiness that
may need your attention.
THE TABLE GROUPINGS
Strategy
At the head of the table lies the
STRATEGY grouping, home to the BIM
Strategy (Bs) element. With strategy
at the heart of any successful BIM
implementation it’s no surprise to find
this at the very top of our table. Thinking
about what you want to achieve from BIM
and how and why you might implement
a strategy (and, in turn, the underpinning
foundations, processes, technology,
tools and people) is fundamental to your
success.
Your strategy is likely to be unique, heavily
reliant on your own key drivers – whether
they are to improve decision-making or
efficiency, deliver better coordinated
information, or simply to reduce paper
usage. Drivers acknowledged, what will
success look like?
26
Foundations
Strategy in place, it’s time to implement
the FOUNDATIONS – the bedrock of
efficient systems for communication,
information exchange, and data
transfer that allow advanced BIM
processes to be delivered.
In order to develop strong foundations,
you’ll also need to consider your
approach to managing the production,
distribution and quality of construction
information in a common data
environment (Cde), ensuring everyone
can access the same data.
Consider, too, the right procurement
routes to set the best environment
for collaboration – what approach
will you take when it comes to model
management, intellectual property rights
and data management, responsibilities
for errors (given the reliance on supplied
data), liabilities and ownership?
Assessing your current BIM capability
and capacity (Ca) will allow you to
determine your BIM-readiness status and
work out what still needs to be done.
Collaboration
BIM and collaborative working go hand
in hand, and the COLLABORATION
grouping is about developing better
and more efficient ways of working.
You’ll need to consider the digital tools
(Di) that will allow you to collaborate
effectively (and how data might flow
between them without loss), as well as
people’s attitudes, which may require
cultural and behavioural changes (Cu).
Ensuring you can use the outputs
that someone else within the project
team has produced by understanding
Interoperability (St) will also be key.
Process
Understanding your current PROCESSES
will allow you to determine where
improvements can be made. This
grouping shows what a best-practice
workflow might look like with information
that is universally structured, regardless
of author. This ideal is achieved by
understanding information requirements
during the whole project life cycle – from
Assessment and Need (As) and Delivery
(De), through to Maintenance and use
(Ma) – so that best value is achieved
through the whole project timeline. The
Common Data Environment (Cde) is at
the very centre, providing the means to
collect, store and distribute information
among the whole project team, ensuring
everyone is working with the same
information. Consider information
exchange (In) – how, when and in
what form is the client requesting it?
People
PEOPLE are often overlooked when
it comes to BIM strategy. As with any
process of change management, you
need to provide clear communication to
your colleagues as to why and how you
intend to implement BIM. You’ll need
support from senior management and
will likely benefit from a series of ‘BIM
champions’ to help oil the wheels.
Ideally BIM should be embedded within
current workflows and not as a separate
entity – given the impact on ‘business as
usual, your communications should be
clear and timely. You need to take care
to understand the impact of any changes
and not to throw out the best bits of
current process and procedure.
Technology
Ensure that you have the right
TECHNOLOGY to support your BIM aims
and objectives. While BIM is more than
just cool technology, it is nevertheless
an important factor for successful
implementation. Alongside software and
hardware deliberations, as you move into
a digital environment, consider how and
where data is stored and the best way
to share and publish information in a
security-minded way.
Standards
Get to know the STANDARDS,
procedures and supplementary
documents available to you that will

www.aps.org.uk
BIM
assist with your strategy and help
achieve collaborative BIM.
An increasing number of countries are
embracing BIM – either as a top-down
approach such as mandating BIM at a
government level, or a bottom-up approach
such as a demand from the supply chain.
Elements in this grouping are supported by
robust supporting documents, standards,
frameworks and protocols, many of which
the UK Government has made available in
mandating BIM in the UK. Try to start with
the end result in mind and have the needs
of the client and Facilities Management
(Fm) team to the fore. The Briefing (Br)
element considers BS 8536-1:2015 and
matters relating to projects for the delivery
of assets/facilities according to defined
operational requirements. BS 1192:4 defines
the methodology for transferring COBie
information – for example, between the
various parties involved in a project.
Enabling Tools
Consider the ENABLING TOOLS that
will help design, develop, deliver and
maintain the built asset. You may require
a number of different tools for specific
ELEMENT-ARY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TABLE’S
BUILDING BLOCKS
Element Name: Employers Information Requirements Grouping: Process
Atomic Number: 12
Element Symbol: Eir. Two, three or four letters. The original periodic table uses
one or two letter symbols. Many three and four letter acronyms are currently well
established within the construction industry and therefore would have caused
confusion to shorten them, ‘BIM’ being a prime example of this.
Please see below for a sample version of the BIM periodic table.
For a full downloadable version visit www.theNBS.com/ptobebook.
tasks and functions as no one piece of
software will meet all your needs, so
think carefully. Ensure that the tools
you use are interoperable and allow you
to exchange information with existing
or new systems and for information
to flow from one party to another.
Resources
Before you make any investment, it is
worth considering what tools are available
to you for free. The final grouping in the
table acknowledges the RESOURCES
that are available to you and access to
information. Complementing paid-for
Books (Bo) are free-to-access Blog Posts
(Bl), Video (Vi) content from file-sharing
sites such as YouTube, and also Surveys
and Reports (Su) such as the annual
NBS National BIM Report. The internet
and social media have created a valuable
online community of support. There are
many online forums and user groups, all
sharing helpful hints and guidance as
well as a range of face-to-face events.
Stefan Mordue, Chartered
Architect, Construction Project
Manager and NBS Consultant.
1
Bs
The Periodic Table of BIM
2
Su
3
BIM Strategy
Fr
4
Cu
Strategy
Foundations
Collaboration
Process
People
Technology
Standards
Enabling Tools
Resources
5
Bt
6
Lod
7
Loi
8
Surveys and
Reports
Vi
Framework
Culture and
behaviour
BIM Toolkit
Level of detail
Level of
Information
Videos
9
Co
10
Po
11
As
12
Eir
13
Cm
14
In
15
Sf
16
Cd
17
Cl
18
Li
19
Cs
20
An
21
Ev
Common methods
Process
Assesment and
need
Employers info
requirements
Communication
Investment
Software
Capital delivery
phase
Collaborative
business relationships
Library objects
Classification
Analysis tools
Events
22
Pr
23
Fo
24
Ex
25
Bep
26
So
27
Ch
28
Ha
29
Op
30
Pt
31
Pe
32
Cafm
33
Ct
34
Fu
Procurement route
Forms of
procurement
Execution
BIM execution plan
Soft skills
Change process
Hardware
Operational phase
Protocol
Prequalification
questionnaires
Computer-Aided
Facilities Management
Cost tools
Forums and user
groups
35
Ca
36
Di
37
De
38
Midp
39
Cp
40
Sh
41
Tr
42
Fm
43
Qu
44
Bsdd
45
Pg
46
Ad
47
Sc
Capability and
capacity
Digital tools
Delivery
Master information
delivery plan
Cooperation
Share success
Training
Facilities
management
Quality management
systems
buildingSMART
data dictionary
Programme tools
Administration
tools
Social media
48
St
49
Ma
50
Cde
51
Ci
52
Av
53
Fi
54
Dg
55
Ds
56
Ifc
57
Au
58
Mo
59
Bl
Standardisation and
Interoperability
Maintenance
and use
Common data
environment
Champion
Availability
File storage
Digital security
Design managment
systems
Industry foundation
classes
Authoring tools
Model viewers and
checkers
Blog posts
60
Dpow
61
If
62
Sp
63
En
64
Ir
65
Br
66
Am
67
Idm
68
Sp
69
Fl
70
Bo
Digital Plan
of Work
Information
exchange
Support
Engage
Infrastructure
Briefing
Asset management
Information
delivery manual
Specification tools
File sharing and
collaboration
Books
Digital Plan of Work stages
71
Sr
72
Bi
73
Df
74
Dn
75
Bu
76
Hn
77
Oe
78
Ed
Strategy
Brief
Definition
Design
Build and
commission
Handover and
closeout
Operation
End of life
Use of the Periodic Table of BIM
is governed by the terms and
conditions and licence at theNBS.com
Find support on your BIM journey at theNBS.com/BIM © Copyright RIBA Enterprises 2016
27

LEGAL
SELF-EMPLOYED, WORKER OR
EMPLOYEE: WHAT’S IN A NAME?
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
Mike Tremeer
A number of high-profile cases in
recent months have examined the
true employment status of individuals
working in various industries and sectors,
often with significant outcomes for the
businesses involved. The past few months
alone have seen the tribunals and courts
rule that Uber drivers, CitySprint bicycle
couriers and plumbers working for Pimlico
Plumbers are ‘workers’ rather than selfemployed
contractors, potentially leading
to many individuals being entitled to
receive additional benefits.
Under English law there are three primary
relationships that a business can use to
engage an individual to perform services
for them.
Employee
The first arrangement is perhaps the most
common – to engage the individual as
an employee. Typically the employer will
prescribe when, where and how work will
be performed and the employee will be
subject to disciplinary sanctions if those
instructions are not met. Employees have
a full suite of employment protections
and rights, including the right not to
be unfairly dismissed and to receive a
redundancy payment (both usually after
at least two years of continuous service),
the right to take maternity or paternity
leave and to receive maternity or
paternity pay and to ‘TUPE’ transfer if the
business that they work for is transferred
from one party to another.
Self-employed independent
contractor
The second traditional ‘status’ is that of a
self-employed independent contractor. In
this arrangement the individual has a large
degree of control over how the services are
performed, when they are performed and
28
Under English
law there
are three primary
relationships that
a business can
use to engage
an individual to
perform services
for them.”
from where. The individual is not obliged
to accept work, nor even to perform the
services themselves – they are entitled to
provide a substitute to complete the work
if they wish. An individual who is selfemployed
has statutory employment rights
such as paid holiday, sick pay or other
dismissal protections.
Worker
The third option is to engage the
individual as a worker; this is a
relationship which has become
increasingly popular in the ‘gig economy’
that has developed in recent years. The
individual has some control over whether
to accept work from the business and
how any work is completed, but there
is an obligation for the individual to
perform the work personally. Workers are
entitled to some employment protections
including paid holiday and sick leave but
not the right to claim unfair dismissal.
Rights on termination – Pimlico
Plumbers
Most commonly, disputes regarding
employment status arise on the
termination of the engagement, and so it
was in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and Mullins v
Smith. Mr Smith was engaged by Pimlico
as a self-employed plumber for five
and a half years before his engagement
was terminated four months after he
suffered a heart attack. Mr Smith issued
proceedings in the employment tribunal
claiming that he was an employee and
seeking compensation for unfair dismissal
and other claims. Pimlico denied that Mr
Smith was an employee, or even a worker,
submitting that he was self-employed – as
was stated in his contract of engagement
and the company handbook.
The employment tribunal found that
Mr Smith was a worker, but not an
employee. Whilst he was not required
to accept work and was able to swap
assignments with other Pimlico plumbers
if necessary, the tribunal found that this
was an ‘informal concession’ and that
ultimately he was obliged to provide
personal service. He was also required
to drive a Pimlico branded van, wear a
Pimlico uniform and was subject to post
termination restrictions that prevented
him from operating as a plumber in
London for a period of three months
after the termination of his engagement.
Pimlico appealed the decision twice and
in February the Court of Appeal gave
its judgment upholding the tribunal’s
decision that Mr Smith was a worker.
Dealing with the issue of personal service
it stated that an absolute right to provide
a substitute is inconsistent with there
being an obligation to provide personal
service. However, a conditional right to
provide a substitute – such as only being
able to do so with the permission of the
employer – is consistent with there being
a requirement for personal service, and so
a worker relationship.
The true employment status of any
individual engaged by a business will
depend on a number of factors and none
will be determinative. However, whether
the individual is required to provide their
personal service is one of the key factors
and so the case provides helpful guidance
for employers.
Those businesses that currently take
advantage of the flexibility and other
benefits of self-employed contractors or
workers would be well advised to carry
out their own audit of current working
practices, to establish if there is a risk
of individuals enjoying unexpected
protections and the business being
exposed to increased costs as a result.
Mike Tremeer
Employment Specialist
Fladgate LLP

www.aps.org.uk
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
LEGAL
than seek help. Self-employed individuals
in particular worry that they are easily
replaceable and that being difficult in any
way risks losing the job.
Caroline Philipps
Mental health professionals have recently
praised Prince Harry for his frank and open
dialogue about his mental health battle.
However, Prince Harry is not the only one
who has been bottling up his emotions. It
is estimated that 91 million working days
are lost every year in the UK due to mental
health issues and yet they are rarely
spoken about openly in the workplace.
It is estimated
that 91 million
working days
are lost every
year in the UK
due to mental
health issues.”
The construction industry is no exception.
Whilst there is a strong focus on physical
safety, little is said about mental health.
However, statistics suggest that five days
are lost to ill health for every one lost to
injury and that suicides may be up to 10
times more common than fatal accidents.
When thinking about the pressures of
the industry, it is not difficult to see why
people’s mental health suffers. Working
days are often long, as are the commutes
from home to site. Rushing to meet
deadlines is particularly stressful in a
high risk industry. It cannot help that the
construction industry is often regarded
as a macho one, where showing any sign
of weakness attracts ridicule and talking
about one’s feelings is rare. There is
still the attitude that anyone struggling
to cope with the demands of their job
should either pull themselves together
or leave the industry altogether, rather
As a result, concerns surrounding mental
health are often swept under the carpet,
but legally this attitude can amount to
unlawful behaviour and the consequences
can be severe.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
1974 and the Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place
obligations on employers, employees
and the self-employed to protect mental
health in the workplace. In particular:
1. Employers have a general duty to
secure the health (which includes
mental health), safety and welfare of
their employees;
2. Employers have a responsibility to
provide such information, instruction,
training and supervision as may be
necessary to ensure the mental health
of their employees;
3. Employees are required to cooperate
with their employers and take care of
their own mental health and that of
those around them; and
4. Self-employed individuals must conduct
their work to ensure they and no other
person are exposed to risks to their
health (which includes mental health).
In addition to a potential claim from the
individual themselves, breaching health
and safety legislation is a criminal offence,
as we know, and can result in a fine or, in
extreme cases, a prison sentence.
However, the risks extend beyond
health and safety breaches. Mental
health impairments such as anxiety and
depression can amount to disabilities
under the Equality Act 2010. Employees,
some of the self-employed and even job
applicants are protected against disability
discrimination in the workplace.
In certain circumstances employers are
under an obligation to make reasonable
adjustments if a disabled person is placed
at a disadvantage, and ignoring cries
for help from employees suffering from
mental health issues could result in an
Employment Tribunal claim. Mocking
someone who has tried to discuss their
mental health issues may amount to
workplace harassment if it offends or
humiliates that person, even if it was
only intended as a bit of light-hearted
workplace banter. Compensation awards
in discrimination claims are uncapped
and therefore can be extremely costly for
employers.
Of course it is not just the legal risks
which should concern employers. Failing
to address mental health in the workplace
contributes to high rates of sickness
absence, which can have a significant
effect on productivity.
So considering the shocking statistics
and the associated risks, is anything
being done to tackle mental health in the
construction industry?
With support from the British Safety
Council, the Health in Construction
Leadership Group has introduced its
‘Mates in Mind’ programme which is
providing people to brief the industry
on how to promote positive mental
health. The initiative aims to encourage
awareness about mental health and
reduce the stigma surrounding it.
See www.matesinmind.org.
Proactively discussing mental health,
identifying issues and offering training
and support are key to a healthy
workforce and in turn crucial to improving
safety standards.
Caroline Philipps
Employment Group, Fladgate LLP
Members can email queries for
considreration by the APS legal
advice service to: info@aps.org.uk
Subject: Legal advice
29

FINAL THOUGHTS
ISSUE 2· 06/2017
THE PRESIDENT’S
POSTSCRIPT
APS President, Bobby Chakravarthy rounds up our second edition of
Project Safety Matters where diversity and inclusion have played an
important part throughout
Bobby Chakravarthy
IT WOULD never occur to me to think
beyond finding the best person for the
job. When looking for the right calibre of
staff, I’ve never stopped to think about age,
sexuality, or race for that matter. Diversity
is very much an issue of our times and
testament to a recognition that Britain
needs to develop home grown talent.
In construction, as well as many other
sectors, there is a skills gap, and
many businesses are crying out for
talented, well-qualified professionals.
I am certainly very conscious it can
be more difficult for some people to
get a foot in the door than others.
Discrimination, in all its forms, seems
like such a tremendous waste of talent.
And, let’s face it; it can be hard enough
to attract the right calibre of candidate,
without putting unnecessary barriers in
the way.
I recently went to meet APS members
and friends in Belfast. On a glorious sunny
day, with the light bouncing off the high
gantries of the Harland and Woolf cranes
which remind us so much of Northern
Ireland’s construction heritage – it was
hard to recall the Troubles. Even in the
austere surroundings of the refurbished
Crumlin Road and opposite the old
courthouse was an effort to remember that
it wasn’t so long ago we needed the law to
ensure religion was no barrier to securing
a good job.
Certainly, the construction industry of
the future will look very different to the
profession today. There are a growing
number of employment opportunities
Diversity is
very much an
issue of our times
and testament
to a recognition
that Britain needs
to develop home
grown talent.”
within technology. I have seen how there is
a role for virtual technologies that enhance
roles for real people and which will
open up new and rewarding avenues for
construction professionals in future.
But today construction is facing the
challenge of attracting, retaining and
rewarding the staff the industry needs. In
this, we are not alone. It is certainly the
case that we cannot fill posts overnight,
undo historical underinvestment in
education and training or by waving a
magic wand. So, what do we do about it?
There are, as I see it, three key issues:
ensuring construction is an attractive
option for young people looking for a
lucrative career, be it university or an
apprenticeship; retaining people once they
have entered the construction workforce;
and training our workers, so they have the
skills to thrive and progress.
That is, I believe, where the Association
for Project Safety can play a pivotal
role providing a development route for
members, a vital cross-sector resource
and the glue that binds the industry’s
efforts to cut fatalities, reduce accidents
and improve the health of construction
workers.
We need to make construction an
attractive employment option not just, as
it was often seen when I was a student,
a labouring role you took on during the
summer holidays. We need to develop our
younger professionals so membership is
free of charge for young people studying
any construction discipline and our annual
awards showcase student design talent.
New technology also has a resonance
with today’s students. And we have to
hold on to the talent we, as an industry,
spend time and money developing. At
the APS, we highlight excellence with our
awards and help members achieve those
heights through the peer support our
regions are well placed to provide. But,
central to what we’re about, is the delivery
of tailored CPD which keeps members
up to date. This has the double benefit
of helping deliver a safer, sustainable
building environment as well as providing
greater job opportunity and reward.
There is still a lot to do. We have to make
sure the industry is open and inclusive.
We need to look after the welfare of our
workers and the conditions that make the
sector a good employer. But I believe it
can be done and, together, we can build a
workforce fit for the future.
Bobby Chakravarthy
APS President
CONTRIBUTIONS
We love to hear from you. As part of our new
vision for APS we want more feedback from our
members. If you have any thoughts or feedback
on this edition or you would like to feature as
a guest writer for the next edition of Project
Safety Matters then please email our editor:
Laura Salmond, Marketing and Communications
laura.salmond@aps.org.uk
30
ADVERTISE OR FIND YOUR JOB ONLINE
WITH APS
APS offers job and career advertising opportunities on the APS
website. This service is FREE to APS Corporate Members and
discounted for Individual Members. APS members can also advertise
their services in our Situations Wanted Section at no cost.
For full details of current jobs and how to advertise go to:
www. aps.org/jobs

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