The CEF health and safety annual initiative, Safety Reboot, returns in January 2024 with a focus on collaboration. The month-long program aims to encourage construction companies to stop work for about fifteen minutes, once a week throughout January to take time to focus on key areas of health and safety. Design & Build contractor McAleer & Rushe has supported the health & safety initiative since it’s inception in 2021 and all of the contractor’s sites across the UK will be taking part, to include actively encouraging participation of its sub-contractors.
This year the CEF health and safety committee has decided to partner with a number of organisations and initiatives to shine a light on mental health and workplace transport safety.
During week commencing 15 January 2024, the NI construction industry will be encouraged to focus on mental health. Existing Safety Reboot mental resources have been amended to include references to The Lighthouse Club and the Building Mental Health Alliance. The Lighthouse Club is the only charity that is 100% dedicated to the emotional, physical and financial wellbeing of construction workers and their families. The Building Mental Health Alliance is a Northern Ireland construction industry initiative, is aimed at creating better mental health for all in the sector.
The following week, the focus moves to supporting the recently launched HSENI workplace transport safety initiative #drivedangerout. Again, the Safety Reboot resources on mobile plant and equipment have been amended to reference the campaign with the aim of promoting this important topic throughout the industry.
There are eleven wide-ranging topics to choose from including working at height, slips, trips & falls, asbestos and temporary works. The CEF health & safety committee has provided resources to enable all in the NI construction industry to get involved. Question packs can be used to stimulate discussion on the chosen topic and a helpful discussion aid is available for each subject to reassure the member of staff facilitating the discussion. Staff and sub-contractors are encouraged to get involved and support the Safety Reboot initiative.
Jonathan Caughey, Federation Manager at the CEF commented:
“With Safety Reboot returning for another year, it’s fantastic to have the Lighthouse Club, Building Mental Health Alliance and HSENI partnering with CEF to highlight two massively important issues to the construction industry. By collaborating, we can encourage construction contractors and their supply chain to take time to discuss these topics and learn more about the resources available from these partners. Whilst we are having two focused weeks this year, contractors are urged to make use of the resources on the other topics throughout January. It’s a great way to focus attention at the start of the year and I would encourage companies to get involved”.
Resources, including question packs and discussion aids on each topic, can be found online here. Social media posts highlighting your involvement should be shared through the hashtag #safetyreboot2024
