News

Safe Contractor Scheme

We are pleased to announce that Phelan Construction were recently accredited as a member of the Safe Contractor Scheme having reached the required health and safety standards following an assessment inspection and auditing of health and documentation. The following topics were considered during the assessment:

• Company policy statement
• Company structure and organisation chart
• Health & Safety responsibilities
• Communication with employees
• Health & Safety training
• Emergency procedures
• Welfare arrangements
• Testing and maintenance of work equipment
• Personal protective equipment
• First aid provision
• Health Surveillance
• Implementation of company policy

Being awarded Safe Contractor accreditation demonstrates the high standard of health and safety that Phelan Construction has attained. Our company is now listed on the Safe Contractor website for clients in search of accredited contractors. The website address is www.safecontractor.com

We are constantly reviewing the company's training program and are at present concentrating on ensuring that our site based staff are competent and qualified to undertake any forthcoming projects. This includes obtaining Construction Industry Training Scheme (CSCS) status for all site members of staff. With all site staff members being CSCS card holders this conveys our commitment to the ongoing development of our staff as well as our commitment to new and changing legislation.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) carry out regular inspections of construction sites to ensure that companies are complying with current legislation with regards to health, safety and welfare. Phelan Construction has recently had site inspections carried out on two different sites in August and September of this year. The first site inspection was at a project in Redhill, Surrey which is a nightclub refurbishment that we are undertaking for Luminar Leisure Ltd. The second site inspection was at a project in Kings Lynn, Norfolk , which is a refurbishment and extension of a former Little Chef & Burger King to become a Frankie & Benny's Restaurant. Both inspections were on a positive note and demonstrates our awareness of legal obligations and compliance with current legislation as a Principal Contractor.

Education sector work remains buoyant

As the recession bites, construction companies will be looking to the public sector to re-generate their pipeline. A falling residential and commercial property market and a reluctance to build, or in some cases even finish, new developments, has resulted in funds from central and local government being eagerly sought by today’s most competitive construction firms.

Gordon Brown has committed to spending his way out of recession. A substantial amount of this spend is going into the education sector to fund university places and vocational training as well as construction and refurbishment of secondary schools under the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. It follows therefore, that construction companies will benefit from the funds available even though they will lose out on the declining private sector.

But what qualities should successful construction firms possess in order to win tenders or retain existing business?

One company which can demonstrate significant success in the education sector – Phelan Construction – recommends that firms attune their thinking to the needs they will be expected to address. Phelan has found the best way of doing this is to set up a dedicated team that is equipped not only with trade skills for the project but also with an understanding of how the school or college in question works. They define three key areas for attention:

Quality

Inevitably first on the list, quality is a pre-requisite for schools, colleges and universities. An obvious statement? Possibly so, but in a climate where spend has, more than ever, to be justified, short-cuts or second rate workmanship are simply not acceptable – even when budgets are tight. Setting the terms of reference for the project at the outset is a fundamental part of bringing the project in on budget AND meeting expectations. If re-designs need to be done to accommodate a shortfall of funds, then far better to do them at this stage.

Inside Knowledge

It is worth a fact-finding mission to build up a picture of your customer’s environment and provide a solid base of information to help you manage the project. Find out when students will be on site, when campuses are least (or most) active, whether student accommodation is used out of term times, what arrangements are in place whilst refurbishment of essential facilities takes place, which compliance procedures will affect you. All this will help with intelligent decision making and priorities as you set milestones and progress through your project plan.

A Hand-Picked Team

Trades people who can work independently and are self-motivated will be invaluable. Building up a team dedicated to the education sector has many advantages. The team members will get to know other trades working on site, will form relationships with staff and decision makers, and will gain useful ‘inside knowledge’. A team that engenders a relationship of trust with the customer has a far greater likelihood of being awarded additional work or future contracts.

Phelan Construction successfully tendered for a three year contract with the University of Essex. Although only six months into this contract Phelan has completed around 15 projects of varying size at the Colchester campus including a new build Post Office and coffee shop, a complete refurbishment of a meeting room that is now a wet laboratory, creation of sound recording acoustic booths for the University’s music centre and alterations in staff and study areas. Named in the contract as the supplier for refurbishment and new construction work, Phelan has hand-picked its 12-man team to include plasterers, bricklayers, carpenters and other trades people, all of whom are dedicated to this contract. The use of local labour boosts the region’s economic prosperity at a time when unemployment is rising and the long-term nature of the work brings additional security to Phelan’s own order pipeline.

The relationship is all about providing top class quality today while considering change for tomorrow. Because the team are on site they are responsive and knowledgeable about the challenges of the academic world. The team has one over-riding objective – to get the work done with minimum disruption but maximum effect.

Phelan Construction Latest Health & Safety News

Friday, 05 May 2006 00:00

Specialists in design and build projectsPhelan Construction Ltd has recently joined the Considerate Contractor Scheme which is run by Cambridge City Council.

The Scheme revolves around an eight point Code of Considerate Practice designed to help registered sites minimize any negative impact they may have on the surroundings, the public and the environment. Sites are monitored, and regular audits carried out to ensure compliance with the code of practise.

The registration with this scheme follows Phelan Construction Ltd being awarded two projects in the city of Cambridge, one of these being the construction of retail warehousing units on a previously used site where ground conditions are unstable and contaminated with potential hazardous substances. This site therefore requires a high level of input and co-ordination with regards to health and safety and monitoring of sensitive issues and conveys our ability to deliver projects of a more demanding nature without compromising safety.

In addition to being registered on the Cambridge City Council Considerate Contractor Scheme we have also recently registered with the National Considerate Constructor’s Scheme. This is a scheme run on the same principal as the Cambridge City Council Scheme but on a national scale and we now register all projects with this scheme.

Being members of the above schemes is a further commitment to providing a high standard of health, safety and welfare on our construction sites and continues our awareness of clients wanting recognised contractors with regards to health and safety. Details regarding the Considerate Constructor’s Scheme can be viewed on the website address www.ccscheme.org.uk

Phelan Construction Ltd is also listed on the Safe Contractor website for prefers contractors. www.safecontractor.com

The company’s training program has recently been reviewed as part of the annual assessment of the competencies of staff and to ensure compliance with forthcoming projects. Resources have been allocated to include the provision of specific training to further develop the staff needs in line with a fast changing industry and forthcoming projects. Part of the further development program includes Construction Industry Training Scheme (CSCS) card holders being extended to our office staff including Quantity Surveyors, Contracts Managers and Company Directors.

We have recently been awarded a project in Luton which is a high profile large scale atrium roof construction and extensive refurbishment works for a new blue-chip client. This project warrants a dedicated closely monitored construction team with regards to health and safety and health and compliance with current legislation and the ability to conform to legal obligations was paramount with the Clients decision on awarding the contract.

At Phelan Construction we are continuously looking at ways in which we can improve our standards of health and safety which we consider to be already leading in certain aspects of monitoring of site activities and are willing to take on projects of a different or unusual nature or design and deliver them safely and without compromise.