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Fire Safety On Construction Sites: 6 Best Practices To Minimise Fire Risk
Fire is a terrifying and pervasive risk on construction sites, and although loss of life is thankfully rare, Home Office statistics reported 1,851 fires on construction sites in England between 2014 and 2019. These fires cause £millions in damage each year and pose a direct risk to public safety, as well as the lives and health of workers.
The Importance Of Prioritising Construction Workers Mental Health
Society is finally coming around to the realisation that mental health is important. Putting on a ‘stiff upper lip’ and suppressing mental distress does nobody any favours.
Timber Tales: Exploring The Art And Science Of Timber Construction
Timber frame construction is the oldest form of building technology, and there is evidence of wooden buildings in Britain dating back to the Neolithic period (4000- 2500 BCE). Archaeological sites in Balbridie in Scotland and Lismore Fields in Derbyshire have revealed a range of complex rectangular buildings with sturdy timber frames, wattle and daub walls, and thatched roofs.
Solving the Construction Workforce Crisis Through Greater Opportunities For Women, BAME, LGBTQ+ and Workers with Disabilities
Among the issues facing the incoming Labour government are long term, structural difficulties within the UK construction sector. It’s not that there’s any shortage of demand.
SC4 Carpenters win Site Operative of the Month
SC4 carpenter, Josh Whitfield, and SC4 apprentice carpenter, Jason Randall, both received Lovell's Site Operative of the Month awards in July 2024 for "going above and beyond".
How can changing attitudes in education relieve Construction skills shortages?
If you don't work harder at school you'll end up on a building site.
How many boys (and girls) heard this and thought "that's not the career for me"?
This article discusses how can changing attitudes towards neurodivergence and those with creative skills can help relieve skills shortages in the Construction Industry.
And that we should be valuing these skills in childhood and pride in neurodivergent people, not knocking them for the very skills the industry needs.
One Day, 20 Crane Lifts
31 July 2024 was a hot and busy day for SC4 Carpenters, with 15 Crane lifts of Roofs and Timber Frame over 3 sites.
Improving Safety And Wellbeing For Women In Construction
The number of women venturing into roles in the construction industry is still modest, but is growing year by year. Since 2022, around 14-16% of the UK construction workforce have been female, with more women entering the sector from higher education. In 2023, The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 340,000 women employed by the sector, an increase of 3.2% since 2019. As construction becomes an increasingly popular and attractive career pathway for women, however, ensuring women’s safety and well-being on-site remains paramount.
Why is Health and Safety in Construction Important?
At SC4 Carpenters Ltd we are proud of our excellent health and safety record over the last 21 years. We have just renewed our SMAS and Acclaim SSIPs accrediations for 2021-2022. In this article we explain what these accreditations mean for us, our clients and our workforce. Health and safety is one of the most important considerations that should take before any construction project gets underway.
‘First Fix’ & ‘Second Fix’ - What’s The Difference?
Building a housing development or other construction project from scratch has a number of different stages as far as carpentry and joinery work is concerned.As a contractor or lead developer, it’s important to get them right to avoid messing up or correcting costly mistakes down the line. In the earlier stages of construction, there's a lot of behind the scenes work for trades specialists: electricians, plumbers, and of course joiners and carpenters.
How SC4 Can Help With 3 Challenges in the Construction Sector
The construction sector has been at the forefront of change in recent months, with some key issues – disruptions in global supply chains, shortages in skilled labour, and variations in prices – causing uncertainty for construction firms and project managers. So, how can we help you to overcome the three main challenges faced by the construction sector?
Breathe Easy, Work Safe: The RPE Every Site Worker Needs
Wearing the correct respiratory protective equipment (RPE) on site is not a “nice to have” – it is the difference between a long, healthy life and preventable, life‑limiting disease. For responsible contractors, allowing for the right RPE and controls in every tender is part of doing business ethically, even when others cut corners to win work.
From Site to Strategy: Simon Mead Promoted to Associate Director at SC4
After 15 years of dedication, Simon Mead has been promoted from Senior Contracts Operations Manager to Associate Director at SC4. Read about his journey.
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The Triple Threat To Contractors And Their Housing Projects
The construction industry accounts for approximately 7% of the UK economy. Given its weight, it is important for business owners and industry stakeholders to keep up to date with the trends affecting the sector.
Why is Neurodiversity so important in Construction?
The construction industry relies heavily on brilliant problem-solvers with unique skills like 3D visualization and pattern recognition, making it a natural fit for neurodivergent talent (including individuals with ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism), whose prevalence in the sector is significantly higher than the general population. This neurodiverse advantage—the "spiky profile" of skills that provides exceptional aptitude in areas like hyperfocus and spatial awareness—is crucial for success, yet many of these workers struggle with invisible hurdles like sensory overload and difficulties with executive function. Therefore, construction companies have a both a commercial imperative and a legal and moral obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and foster a culture where simple support measures are implemented to leverage this powerful, detail-oriented workforce.
This article includes statistics, toolbox talks for managers and workers and links to further information and support.
SC4 – Proud to Support Mental Health Awareness Week 2022
The week of 9th to 15th May 2022 was Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, in which hundreds of charities and businesses throughout the country staged local events and awareness-raising activities to help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. At SC4 Carpentry, we believe in the importance and promotion of mental health which continues to be high on our agenda.
The 5% Club Charter
SC4 is proud to have signed The 5% Club Charter and that we have repeatedly exceeded the promises made in this Charter for many years by having a minimum 5% of our UK workforce enrolled on formalised apprentice, sponsored student and/or graduate development schemes. We aim to play a role in transforming the fortunes of young, talented people in the UK and to ensure that the UK retains its reputation for innovation.
Katy Hall, Inspirational Business Women in Construction 2025
SC4 Carpenters Ltd is pleased and proud to announce that Katy Hall, joint owner & Director of SC4, has won an Inspirational Business Women in STEM and Construction Award in 2025.
Men's Health Week 2024
10-16 June 2024 is Men's Health Week. Did you know that men are less likely to seek mental health support, and they account for 75% of all suicides worldwide? Men make up over 90% of those working on a construction site and workers in construction are at some of the highest risk of suicide in the country, with rates in the industry over three times higher than the national average.
Carpentry Occupational Health Toolbox Talk
Carpentry presents a range of occupational health hazards that workers should be aware of. These include the inhalation of wood dust, injuries from manual handling, falls from elevated positions, and potential contact with hazardous chemicals and asbestos. Implementing robust safety protocols, notably the consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is key to reducing these risks.
This article takes a closer look at the primary risks and recommended safety measures, providing a list of key topics for your toolbox talks.