The Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland (CECA Scotland) has announced the 'Stop. Make a Change' programme, to be run from 11 to 22 October 2021 to coincide with World Mental Health Day and the European Week for Safety and Health.

This year everyone is being asked to 'Re-engage with their own Health, Safety & Wellbeing' – to do this, CECA Scotland are suggesting that everyone engages in a Conversation Starter initiative.

CECA Scotland said: "We know that the industry is diverse and that each project can have its own challenges, so to reflect this diversity we have produced a set of Conversation Starter packs around a number of topical subjects.

"All we ask is that you choose ONE topic where you perceive you could make positive changes. You can then use the pack to help facilitate a discussion with your workforce. The pack can be downloaded from the SMAC-21 website.

"Although no topic is off limits, we are suggesting the following key areas to be addressed:

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• RESPIRATORY (Health) – There are still too many people dying due to respiratory diseases and we need to change current working practices in order to reduce exposure of all dangerous airborne particles. Indeed, the links between exposure to emissions from construction activities (cutting, drilling, welding, etc) and cancer are well documented. What would you change and how?

• PEOPLE PLANT INTERFACE – Again, too many workers are killed or injured due to working around machines and machinery. What can be done to improve your working environment?

• MENTAL HEALTH & WORKPLACE STRESS (Wellbeing) – We know that Covid-19 has and continues to affect our personal and working lives. What needs to change to improve your working environment?

AND

• CANCER – Sadly, construction workers are an at-risk group when it comes to cancer. This is largely down to preventable causes, like smoking and drinking alcohol being much more common in construction workers. We know that men tend to have their cancers diagnosed at a later stage, when they are harder to treat. As a predominantly male workforce, and particularly now when fewer people are seeing their GPs with worries because of COVID-19, raising awareness of the importance of early diagnosis is crucial. There are steps we can all take to support workers to lead healthier lives, both in and out of work – how will you support your staff?

"To help get the best out of the discussions we would suggest:

• Put Tools Down & Turn Phones Off

• Gather Colleagues and Find a Quiet Place

• Open Conversation Starter Pack

• Commence Conversation – We suggest 1 hour minimum

• Record Key Comments

• Agree set of Actions

• Implement Changes.

"The CECA Health, Safety & Wellbeing Group is offering their expertise to any CECA SME that is in need of guidance or assistance on any of the above."