You may be quite shocked to learn that cocaine is no longer the preserve of the Tara Palmer Wotsits and the Robbie Williamses.

Our research has highlighted the fact that it’s now affordable for any Tom, Dick or Harry – and available down the local pub (see An Accident Waiting to Happen, p14).

It was Laing O’Rourke which started us thinking about this issue. Last year it published its Human Capital Report which, among other things, detailed the number of people who had failed its random drug tests. No less shocking is the information on health problems that Laing O’Rourke’s screening reveals: 45% of workers suffering hearing loss, 28% with musculoskeletal problems, 22% clinically obese, 18% drinking more than the recommended amount.

Occupational health screening, rehabilitation and retraining where people can’t continue with their current job, will take years to perfect. The difficult questions we highlight in relation to drug use – when and how to test, safety issues, lifestyle impacting on work – apply to other aspects of occupational health.

If all this sounds like just another ridiculous expense, here’s some thoughts to chew on:

  • If someone is at high risk of a heart attack, you don’t want them driving a crane.
  • You may have to explain in court why you don’t have a policy for identifying drug users if there’s an accident.
  • Can you show that someone didn’t damage their hearing on your projects?
  • Skilled tradesmen are hard to find (see our skills survey story, p11), so it doesn’t make sense to run the ones we have into the ground.
If Construction UK is really serious about improving its image, it has to treat the people who are actually doing the construction with professionalism and respect. You can’t complain about cowboy builders sullying the good name of the industry while you turn a blind eye to the ill-health of the workers on your project.

It’s CM, but not as we know it...

Look out for your refreshed, revitalised Construction Manager next month. Thank you to all of those who responded to our survey last year. We’ve listened to your comments and updated the look and the content of the magazine. We hope you like it.

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Construction Manager