Health Safety & Wellbeing Award 2023

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The Haverfordwest VC High School Project (HHVCS) developed and instilled an exceptionally positive health and safety culture that was fostered and embraced by all personnel involved with the project. Through positive engagement with the workforce, supply chain, visitors and client they delivered a suite of initiatives that delivered tangible health, safety, and wellbeing benefits to everybody involved in the project.

It was remarkable to see the high level of engagement they experienced from the workforce who were genuinely inspired and motivated to get involved and help them deliver sector leading safety results, positive interactions, and worker engagements. The client regularly commented on the very high safety standards, extraordinary cleanliness of the site and also the positive attitude and high levels of contentment they witnessed within the workforce, which were partly attributable to the investment they made in their safety and physical and mental wellbeing.

Their investment in the Health Safety & Wellbeing of the workforce started with a virtual pre-enrolment, induction and site tour, to reduce the Covid risk. At the site they invested in a very high standard of accommodation and facilities for the welfare compound. This started with the provision of a touchless turnstile system to gain entry. They installed an M-Site turnstile and opted for the smart phone integration so all personnel gained access to the site by using an App on their phones, rather than use a touchpad because of the Covid transmission risk. At the time they were placing the order for the site accommodation units, the Welsh Government brought in new legislation for social distancing at work. This meant the site cabins they were about to procure would have been too small. Since they were still negotiating the contract sum with the Client (PCC) they quickly agreed to help them fund larger site cabins to satisfy the new criteria. The spacious units procured were very high quality and the workforce and visitors felt safe when visiting site and regularly complimented them on an exceptional site set-up.

Within the canteens they employed a rota system for breaks and lunches so everybody could be spaced 2m apart on their tables which were equipped with screens. The cleaners ensured every space was cleaned before each seating and a green tick/red cross sign was displayed to communicate which tables/spaces had been cleaned ready for the next seating.

Windows were left open for venting and all these Covid protocols were gratefully received by the workforce who regularly thanked them for their efforts. They also established a picnic area outside complete with landscaping features to create a relaxing and vibrant outdoor eating space which proved to be very popular, even in cold weather.

In terms of the health and safety performance there were no RIDDOR reportable accidents in 475,886-man hours over 2 years and 4 months and was RIDDOR free. Their mental health first aiders delivered 48 no. ‘one to ones’ which were all gratefully received by the personnel that stepped forward to seek assistance.