COVID-19 Archives - Rollalong

29th June 2020 When we re-opened our construction sites earlier this month we also introduced a new set of site operating procedures to ensure that all our employees and contractors are working safely and avoiding spreading the coronavirus. Our COVID-19 Site Operating Procedures have been written in accordance with the Construction Leadership Council – Protecting Your Workforce During Coronavirus guidelines and the HM Government Working Safely During Coronavirus guidance document. The procedures, which have been developed by our Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager Daniel Newcombe, set out Rollalong’s approach to safely operating construction sites to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include measures such as:

providing hand sanitising stations around site, including the entrance/exit
providing COVID-19 induction training to all personnel
displaying signs on hand hygiene and social distancing
reducing seating in offices and canteens to maintain social distancing
enhanced documented cleaning regimes where commonly touched surfaces are cleaned throughout the day
meetings to be held outside where possible
external signing-in booths created so contractors don’t need to go into the office
staggered breaks to reduce the number of people using the canteen
people limits placed on all communal rooms to maintain distancing
one-way system implemented around site for pedestrians to prevent people crossing
where queues might occur, such as to use toilets, the floor has been marked with 2m spacing
all contractors to amend their Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS) to include COVID-19 control measures, ensuring social distancing is maintained when completing tasks
Before restarting work all site personnel are provided with specific COVID-19 induction training covering the site-specific requirements

10th June 2020 We’re pleased to say that we’re starting to re-open our construction sites as the coronavirus lockdown eases. We’ve re-opened our site at Sugden Way in Barking, East London where we’re working with regeneration company BeFirst to deliver affordable housing for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. We’ve recommenced groundworks for a café for Aspire Defence Ltd at MOD Larkhill on Salisbury Plain and we’re back on site in Bridport where we’re completing an office complex for Dorset County Council’s highways department. We’re also starting a number of new construction projects across the south of England. “Like many construction companies we closed all our sites when the national lockdown was first announced in March,” said Managing Director Steve Chivers. “In line with Government guidelines we are now re-opening these sites and getting back to work while always prioritising the health and safety of our staff, suppliers, contractors and local residents.” We’ve produced our own COVID-19 Site Operating Procedures to sit alongside and enhance the guidance issued by the Construction Leadership Council and the Government. The procedures set out Rollalong’s approach to safely operating construction sites to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and include measures such as:

providing hand sanitising stations around site
providing COVID-19 induction training to all personnel
displaying signs on hand hygiene and social distancing
reducing seating in offices and canteens to maintain social distancing
enhanced cleaning regimes for commonly touched surfaces
meetings to be held outside where possible
staggered breaks to reduce the number of people using the canteen
one-way system for pedestrians to prevent people crossing

In addition to re-opening three sites, we’re also starting work on a number of new projects, including: a new special educational needs (SEN) facility for Dorset County Council at St Mary’s School in Puddletown; a teaching classroom facility for the MOD at Worthy Down; new facilities for St Peter’s School in Old Windsor for Wokingham Borough Council; and various education projects for Hampshire County Council. “It’s very good news, and while we’re taking a safety first approach it’s great to be back on site and turning these projects into reality,” added Steve. “In the current crisis the advantages of modular offsite construction become really clear. Much of the work is done in our factory in Dorset, which minimises the number of trades we need on site. That reduces the number of deliveries and journeys as well as the number of workers actually needed on site. “So it’s beneficial both in minimising the spread of the virus and in reducing our carbon footprint.” Pictured below: an example of the COVID-19 precautionary measures we’ve introduced at MOD Larkhill.

29th May 2020

A former defence medical rehabilitation centre in Surrey featuring four major buildings constructed by Rollalong has been converted into an NHS hospital to treat patients recovering from coronavirus.

NHS Seacole Centre near Leatherhead, the first UK hospital dedicated to helping coronavirus patients recover from the long-term effects of the illness, has accepted accepted its first patients this week.

The Jubilee Rehabilitation Complex was the last phase completed at the former DMRC Headley Court in Surrey by Rollalong in 2012. The new facility was officially opened that year by TRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Headley Court was mothballed in 2018 but has now re-opened as NHS Seacole Centre, with space for up to 300 beds if they are needed.

It was opened on 4^th May by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and is named after pioneering nurse Mary Seacole who set up the British Hotel behind the front lines of the Crimean War to help sick and injured soldiers recover.

By honouring the British-Jamaican nurse, the hospital’s name also serves as a tribute to BAME (black and minority ethnic) NHS staff who are working on the frontline of the UK’s fight against the virus.

NHS Seacole Centre is a community hospital and the first of its kind in the UK, designed to provide space for patients to recover after coronavirus treatment, as well as those who’ve been in hospital for routine treatment.

It allows patients to be discharged from acute hospitals to free up space and is run by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The £11m Jubilee Rehabilitation Complex built by Rollalong featured a 48-bed ward accommodation building, therapy block and workshop. It was constructed in nine months to provide clinical and rehabilitation facilities for amputees, mostly from the military, with single, double or triple prosthetics.

“Despite the exacting timeframe, we were able to rise to the challenge thanks to our quality-driven approach and our strong existing relationship with the MoD,” said Rollalong Managing Director Steve Chivers.

“Although we haven’t been involved in the conversion of Headley Court to an NHS COVID-19 hospital, it’s gratifying for us to see our buildings put to important new uses. It just shows how adaptable and flexible modular buildings can be.”

26th March 2020

With regret, we are today announcing the temporary closure of our factory and head office in Dorset for the next three weeks owing to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The health and safety of our employees and the wider community is our primary concern and the Prime Minister’s instruction earlier this week means we can no longer safely ask our staff to come in to work.

We will remain closed until such time as the Government’s advice changes.

All 100 of our permanent staff will continue to be employed by Rollalong Ltd.

If you are one of our valued customers and would like to message us please email me at steve.chivers@rollalong.co.uk

Many thanks for your understanding.

Steve Chivers
Managing Director

26th February 2020 New figures revealed last week show that we are leading the way when it comes to health and safety in the contruction sector. At Rollalong in 2019 the average number of days lost per worker was zero, and the number of accidents per 100,000 workers reported under RIDDOR* regulations was also zero. This compares to the national average for the entire construction sector, where 366 accidents per 100,000 workers were reported under RIDDOR regulations in 2019 and the average number of days lost per worker was 0.17**. Our workers and contractors have worked over 500,000 hours since the last Lost Time Incident in October 2018 and almost 1.5 million hours since the last RIDDOR incident in July 2017. Accident statistics at Rollalong over the past three years (2017 to 2019) are also significantly better than the national construction sector average:

RIDDOR: 133 per 100,000 workers (2.75 times better than industry average)
Average days lost per worker: 0.04 (4.25 times better than industry average)

Our Safety, Health Environment and Quality Manager Daniel Newcombe is delighted with the figures. “As a company we are committed to health and safety at every level,” he said. “We don’t just do the minimum of what is required; all our staff and contractors are encouraged to go above and beyond to ensure the safety of everyone involved. “As a result we have an exemplary record for health and safety and it’s pleasing that this latest set of industry data confirms that.” Last year Rollalong won seven monthly contractor health and safety awards for being the highest performing contractor on the £1.1bn Army Basing Programme, providing housing for British Army personnel returning to the UK from Germany. * RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013: https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/ ** Statistics come from the Health & Safety Executive: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm

Sectors

New Operating Procedures In Force On Site