I saw two recent blogs focusing on the number of manhours worked without an accident on university construction projects. It’s amazing to see how well health and safety have improved in the UK and that these universities are taking direct action to support all those who work on site. But according to Total Contractor, there was a 15% increase in fatal incidents in the UK across the whole construction industry in 2022/23. This statistic underscores a crucial point: while we can take significant steps to reduce accidents and universities are leading the way, we can always aim to do more.
So, what are some of the ways that universities, and any other sector, can improve things when it involves having third party contractors on site? For me, the number one way is to always make sure those on site have been briefed well and understand exactly what is expected. 90% of health and safety happens before anyone ever arrives on site. That’s my stat with a little guesswork, so please don’t quote me on it exactly. But I think we all know what I’m focusing on.
Modernising Contractor Inductions to Enhance Safety
To improve what happens before arriving on site, it’s essential to ensure that contractor briefings are as effective and engaging as possible. The reality is that contractors, like everyone else, have adapted. Estate Managers, Health and Safety Coordinators, and anyone dealing with on-site contractors were previously able to send documents and know they would be read. There was a desire to read them, and everyone knew their importance. But in 2024, there are too many distractions, and attention spans have shortened. So, we have to adapt by creating the type of content contractors are willing to engage with.
Here’s why outdated methods like sending PDFs for contractor inductions don’t work:
- Incomplete documents: Key information about safety rules, restricted areas, and site-specific procedures can be missed in lengthy PDFs. Often worded in a way that someone doesn’t understand or can’t relate to what they would expect on-site. Although they may seem complete to key stakeholders, they’re not perceived that way by the contractors reading them.
- Excessive Micromanagement: Estate managers and supervisors spend too much time ensuring contractors understand the rules, diverting their focus from other important tasks. Imagine if you have 10 contractors on-site each week, and each person asks just one question, taking 30 minutes to check against the PDF’s, research some more, write, and send a clear email or message. That’s easily 5 hours of your week gone; And that just can’t happen.
So that needs to change. Estate offices throughout universities must find ways to ensure that contractors understand the content and that this content is easily updated. Documents take forever to create and sign off, and videos require camera operators to be on-site for several days, taking up yours or your staff’s time.
Many universities are turning to animated videos. With animated videos, 95% of the work can be done off-site by an agency like ours. You only need to spend a few minutes here and there reviewing different stages. Plus, should you receive any feedback or require future updates, these can be handled without the need for a site visit.
The Solution: Animated Videos
Animated videos offer a modern, effective solution:
Let’s break it down a little more:
· Engaging and Clear Content: Converting complex safety protocols and site procedures into visual, easy-to-understand animations that capture contractors’ attention is kid of straight forward for an animation agency. See, animation isn’t just a bunch of £50-a-month templates where you have to make do. Instead, we customise every scene to reflect your campus’s specific areas. For example, if we discuss parking, it’s your car park that contractors see in the video.
· Consistent Messaging: Another great advantage of animated contractor videos is that they ensure every contractor receives the same precise information, reducing the risk of miscommunication. Additionally, you can analyse feedback from a large audience to identify any areas in the video that need to be reworded or adapted.
· Ongoing Updates: As your site evolves, so can the animated video. Simply send us a picture, and we’ll update the background illustration. No film crews are needed. This keeps everything simple for you and the contractors viewing the video.
Conclusion
The rise in fatal incidents reported by Total Contractor highlights the critical importance of getting contractor inductions right. For those managing protected areas, the stakes are even higher for the university or organisation. We’ve seen firsthand the damage that can occur when contractors are unaware of site procedures, such as blocking large holes at the end of each day to prevent unwanted overnight visitors of the furry kind.
By adopting animated videos, you can significantly enhance contractor compliance, improve site safety, and streamline operations.