Author: Pulse Assent

An innovative dual camera system which can spot both road workers speeding through construction sites and road users who illegally drive through cones has been hailed a potential life saver.

This winning system, the first of its kind, is housed in one vehicle, and is currently being extensively tested across motorways and main A roads managed by Highways England. It is one of the winners at the prestigious Highways England Health, Safety, and Wellbeing awards.

The awards, open to Highways England and its supply chain, attracted 115 entries across six categories. The nine winning entries announced ranged from initiatives to improve the mental health and wellbeing of staff to improving the safe loading of lorries.

In the first trials, in the West Midlands, a 50 per cent month-on-month reduction was recorded in road workers driving 10mph above the signed limit through sites. And in Essex the number of roadworks incursions reduced by more than 80%.

The camera system – developed by Carnell Support Services and Kier Highways – was one of two winners in the Health & Safety Innovation category at Highways England’s inaugural Health, Safety and Wellbeing awards ceremony.

Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England said:

It’s well known that safety is our first imperative and I am delighted that these awards highlight that. The camera system, for example, will ultimately save lives. This project and the other winners show how innovative ways of thinking will make things safer for those working on and using our strategic road network and these awards also highlight the mental health and wellbeing of staff is as important as feeling safe in the workplace. I look forward to seeing more achievements in years to come.

In addition (to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards) there was a special overall Chairman’s Award. This is a discretionary award chosen from the winners of all the categories in the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards. The Chairman’s Award was awarded to Clancy Group, for their Work Related Safety Programme.

Highways England chairman Colin Matthews said:

I am delighted that colleagues in Highways England and partner organisations are finding ways to reduce injuries on our roads. Congratulations to Clancy Group whose success in making the roads safer for their drivers can be widely replicated by others.

The nine winners were:

1: H&S Innovation – two winners

Carnell Support Services and Kier Highways for SAFETYcam

Highways England’s Incident Prevention Team – Vehicle Load Security working with the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL)

An initiative to improve the awareness and understanding around safely securing loads on lorries or for customers transporting large goods. Highways England’s Incident Prevention Team developed Police Load Security Training in partnership with the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL) to help them better understand load security enforcement and how to help educate lorry drivers.

2: Road User Safety Achievement – two winners

Clancy Group for the Clancy Work Related Road Safety Programme.

Over 12 months, this driving programme saw a 20% reduction in insurance claims, a 20% improvement in driver performance score and a 3.6% reduction in fuel use per vehicle due to safer and more fuel-efficient driving practices. All drivers are proactively engaged in the Fleet Safety Management and Compliance Programme which is run by a dedicated team and supported by the Clancy Group Board of Directors.

Highways England Marketing team supported by George & Dragon (Advertising Agency) for the Vehicle Checks campaign.

The Vehicle Checks campaign identified the second largest cause of serious accidents can be attributed to drivers not carrying out basic vehicle checks in advance of long or significant journeys. Customer insight demonstrated a 15% increase in consumer awareness to performing vehicle checks.

3. Project of the Year (supply chain only) – one winner

Balfour Beatty Skanska Joint Venture for the M25 J30/A13 Corridor Relieving Congestion Scheme.

A targeted approach by the joint venture to improve health safety and well-being has resulted in a workplace where everyone can take responsibility for their own and their colleagues’ health, safety and wellbeing. The team’s efforts are also reflected in the schemes excellent all round safety statistics with a zero Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) when the project finished.

4: Graduate/Apprentice of the Year – two winners

Amelia Kirwan – Highways England’s Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team.

Amelia Kirwan joined Highways England in November 2016 as a Project Manager Apprentice. Amelia was recognised for her approach to work and her passion to learn and expand her knowledge. She is seen as a real asset for the team and recently was successful with her application for a temporary role in the team.

Jessica Dunn – AECOM – Proactive approach to promoting good mental health.

Jessica, who is a graduate engineer in AECOM’s Strategic Highways team in Chesterfield, has undertaken various initiatives to tackle mental health stigmas and support at a local and national level for AECOM. These include working with colleagues to include wellbeing into weekly safety stand downs, liaising with local authorities and charities to provide line manager training and Lunch & Learn sessions in the local office, and campaigning for mental health first aiders to be provided in every office.

5: H&S Wellbeing Initiative – one winner

Graham Construction Ltd – CONNECT.

CONNECT, a programme to drive employee wellbeing, has significantly reduced staff turnover and increased employee engagement against all performance measures. This was achieved through initiatives such as in areas including personal diagnostics, personal coaching and mindfulness training. During 2018-19 Graham will invest over £1m during 2018/19 to roll the programme out to all employees.

6: H&S Performance – one winner

Mway Comms.

Following the death of a subcontractor in July 2015, Mway Comms put in place an action plan to improve the culture and support within the company. For two years Mway Comms implemented a progressive health and safety (H&S) Improvement programme that involved a new H&S system, an in-house H&S advisor and a commitment from managers, supervisors and operatives to comply with policies and procedures. In 2017 Mway Comms had zero RIDDOR’s, (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) making its Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) zero.

For further information about the Health, Safety and Wellbeing awards, visit our website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

As part of this year’s British Science Week, 1,800 pupils from 10 schools across England are being given the opportunity to take part in interactive science workshops hosted by Public Health England (PHE) scientists.

From pupils extracting DNA from their own cells using household products, to a science and health-related game of Pictionary and quizzes on air pollution, the aim of these workshops is to inspire the young people to consider a career in science and showcase the variety of areas within science they could pursue.

British Science Week is an annual 10-day event, with this year being its 24th year running. It encourages organisations, professionals in the science sector, science communicators and the general public to hold events that get people involved in scientific activities.

This year, PHE is expanding its reach to 10 schools across 3 regions: the North (Manchester, Salford), South West (Bristol, Cheltenham and Torquay) and South East (Harlow). During the week, there will be 25 PHE scientists leading interactive science workshops for pupils aged 13 to 14 years old.

The scientists taking part specialise in a range of disciplines, including toxicology, microbiology, environmental public health, microscopy, vaccine research and epidemiology.

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of PHE said:

It’s important that the current generation of scientists informs and inspires the next generation, and shows young people the range of routes and opportunities they can pursue within world-leading UK science. We are thankful for the scientists taking part in British Science Week workshops across the country, and hope that their efforts encourage the pupils to consider a career in science as a viable and exciting option.

Sarah Robertson, Senior Environmental Health Scientist at PHE said:

I speak for all of the scientists involved when I say that we are excited to take part in British Science Week and showcase just a few of the many disciplines within science to the students. Although a large proportion of our time is dedicated to research, outreach work such as these interactive workshops is also our responsibility, particularly to highlight the breadth of our roles to young people. Science and research are imperative in our world and we must ensure that the future workforce continues to be made up of talented and passionate individuals.

PHE is in the process of creating a world-leading centre of excellence for public health research, improvement and protection, and a new headquarters, at the vacant GlaxoSmithKline site in Harlow. This will involve relocating facilities from Porton in Wiltshire and Colindale in north London, as well as the current central London headquarters. PHE Harlow is expected to be fully operational by 2024.

Background

1. British Science Week is an annual event and in 2018 takes place between 9 to 18 March.
2. Schools attending the sessions are:
   • Burnt Mill Academy
   • Forest Hall School
   • Mark Hall Academy
   • Stewards Academy
   • Passmores Academy
   • Torquay Academy
   • Fairfield School
   • All Saints’ Academy
   • All Hallows R.C. High School
   • Walkden High School
3. Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and providing specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific expertise and support. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.

Rural communities will be given more options to convert agricultural buildings into family homes to better meet local housing needs through planning rule changes, announced Housing Minister Dominic Raab.

Changes to permitted development rights will mean up to 5 new homes can be created from existing agricultural buildings on a farm rather than the maximum of 3 currently permitted.

Currently several hundred new homes each year are created through conversions of agricultural buildings, and these changes are expected to boost these numbers further.

The changes will help communities make the best use of existing buildings to help meet local housing needs more efficiently, while at the same time ensuring they remain in keeping with the character of the area and safeguard people’s privacy.

Government is also giving applicants an extra year to convert further storage and distribution buildings into new homes that will help relieve local housing pressures.

Housing Minister Dominic Raab said:

We need to be more creative if we are to meet the housing needs of rural communities.

That’s why I’m changing planning rules so rural communities have more flexibility on how best to use existing buildings to deliver more much needed homes for families.

This is part of our comprehensive reform programme to build the homes Britain needs.

The new measures will also help farmers adopt the latest innovations in modern farming practices by increasing the size limit of new agricultural buildings on larger farms from 465 square metres to 1,000 square metres.

Further information

Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application.

The rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impact and to protect local amenity.

The amended development right for the change of use of agricultural buildings to provide up to 5 new homes will allow for:

• up to 3 larger homes within a maximum of 465 square metres or
• up to 5 smaller homes each no larger than 100 square metres or
• a mix of both, within a total of no more than 5 homes, of which no more than 3 may be larger homes

To further support housing delivery, applicants will have a further year in which to benefit from the temporary permitted development right for the change of use of buildings used for storage and distribution to residential use. The right will be extended by a year until 10 June 2019.

The regulations to come into force on 6 April support the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s focus on making the most effective use of land or buildings in the draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework, announced earlier this week.