I have experienced Construction Care support within two large construction companies
in the UK and have found them to be professional and give best value to the service
they provide. Occupational health in construction continues to be under resourced
and with greater HSE interest is an area that forward looking companies with vision
and H&S as a core value are looking at.
Initial perception is that Construction Care supply nurses to large sites that give first
aid. However, they provide much more than this. Apart from a complete medical
service to the construction site with trauma trained Registered General Nurses they
also offer health promotion and education to the workforce.
This has resulted in a number of cases where operatives have had medical problems
identified and further treatment has enabled them to manage and improve their
wellbeing. This can only be achieved by experienced nurses building relationships
on site to give operatives the confidence to go to them.
The company also follows robust protocols and can either support existing client
nurses or can manage the provision and standards across the client company ensuring
client confidence and legal compliance. The nurses are supported by a fully trained
occupational health Doctor and managers with actual on site experience.
The company has the flexibility and experience to work to different management
models from large construction sites to smaller multiple sites such as BSF projects.
This allows for either full time site based nurses or a peripatetic multisite approach.
With three years experience of construction care in two large companies I can clearly
see the benefits and how the service compliments existing health and safety systems
and company values which have included Incident and Injury Free and Zero Harm
commitments to the workforce.
I look forwards to seeing construction care on more of the contracts across our
industry and fully endorse the service they provide and the benefits to the client
company and also the workforce.
Philip Matyear CMIOSH
Divisional H&S Manager