Ray O'Rourke caused a bit of a stir last month at the British Council for Offices conference when he said that a building site "is not a place where women fit". He was talking with reference to labour shortages and went on to say that Laing O'Rourke, of which he is chairman, will be using prefabrication to overcome any shortfall in workers.

Does this show a shockingly old-fashioned attitude from a man who many consider runs a firm at the cutting edge of construction? Or is O'Rourke just saying what many think but are too wary to say?

Business has moved on from the ‘equality' ethos of the ‘80s to today's ideas of ‘diversity', which recognises that different people have different strengths and abilities and should be used in a role which best makes use of these. Some say women's organisational skills make them good project managers. But most women are physically weaker than men, so why use them as bricklayers or joiners?

There are arguments for having more women around on site. A report just out looking at barriers to women getting into non-traditional employment, I ain't no tea lady, from Women into Work, says that females bring different skills, such as listening, multi-tasking and empathy and improve the atmosphere.

CIOB's director of change management Trevor Patterson said: "CIOB supports an increase in prefabrication as a means of improving safety and quality and would encourage women to take their rightful place both in the design and manufacture of the units and in the management, planning and installation process.

"Given the level of opportunity available let's hope women rise to challenges like those in Ray's comment and repeat the improvements they have made to many other industries and professions."

Source

Construction Manager

Postscript

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