Tag Archive: health and safety

1. Construction Insights: MMC in Education, 2024.

   29th November 2023 10:43 am Comments Off on Construction Insights: MMC in Education, 2024.

   At Thurston, we’re dedicated to providing educational institutions with cutting-edge, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. As we look to 2024, our latest blog to explores the key benefits of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for Education:

   

   Thurston, Huddersfield New College, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, July, 2023

   Safety:

   Enhanced safety measures are implemented during factory assembly, creating a secure environment for your employees and students.

   Sustainability:

   We prioritise eco-friendly materials and practices, reducing waste and minimising environmental impact—a win for both future generations and your institution’s reputation.

   Speed:

   Our modular approach typically reduces construction time, allowing schools and universities to accommodate growing student populations quickly.

   Cost-efficiency:

   Streamlined processes and reduced on-site work mean cost savings, freeing up resources for other essential educational needs.

   Flexibility:

   Modular buildings can be easily expanded or reconfigured to adapt to changing educational requirements, ensuring longevity and value.

   Minimal Disruption:

   Our off-site construction minimises disruption to ongoing campus activities, allowing educational programs to continue without interruption.

   Quality:

   Precision engineering in a controlled factory environment ensures consistently high-quality structures, meeting the stringent safety standards of the Education sector.

   If you’re interested in exploring how modular construction can benefit your educational project, please reach out. Let’s create inspiring spaces for the leaders of tomorrow.

   Follow for more updates  – https://www.linkedin.com/company/thurston-building-systems-limited/

   Or contact us directly – https://thurstongroup.co.uk/contact-us/

2. Thurston Group picks up its first RoSPA award

   3rd August 2021 9:56 am Comments Off on Thurston Group picks up its first RoSPA award

   We’re extremely delighted to announce that we’ve picked up our first internationally recognised award; the Silver RoSPA Award, in recognition of our commitment to health and safety practices across our organisation. 

   After going for the award for the first time, we’re delighted to have achieved the Silver Award. The Silver RoSPA Award, organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), recognises Thurston’s and our employees’ achievements in health and safety. All of our teams focus on a “Work Safe, Home Safe” initiative, safeguarding themselves, their colleagues, our clients, customers and the communities in which we operate.

   The annual Health and Safety Awards are categorised by different levels of achievement: Merit, Bronze, Silver and Gold, as well as long-term awards that recognise companies for achieving Gold Awards for multiple consecutive years. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world leaders in health and safety practices. Every year, nearly 2000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running health and safety industry awards.

   Matthew Goff, our Managing Director, said, “We’re extremely proud to have received this distinguished award from the RoSPA. These annual awards are among the foremost international accolades that you can receive in the Health and Safety sector. It’s particularly gratifying to have received this recognition for Thurston Group’s long-term track record of excellence in this area, especially given the recent challenges of the pandemic. Safety is our number one value, with all our teams focusing on our “Work Safe, Home Safe” initiative, safeguarding themselves, their colleagues, our clients, customers and the communities in which we operate. These awards are a true recognition of our culture.”

   Gary Ware, our Group Production Director, said, “This RoSPA award once again supports our group’s ongoing strategic plan and commitment to be the partner of choice, and in light of the current pandemic, the investment into our people, the estates and our buildings has us well placed to continue growing as a business. A special mention to our SHEQT Officer, Janet Sanders for the award support, and well done to all involved across all three of our operational sites, along with our construction sites throughout the UK . Keep up the good work!” 

   Want to know more about our organisation? Head over to Our Company.

3. Thurston Group attends MPBA webinar

   10th June 2021 2:30 pm Comments Off on Thurston Group attends MPBA webinar

   We spent today virtually attending the Modular and Portable Building Association’s (MPBA) second live event of the year. Presenting from the Arden Hotel, the AGM webinar focused on the Marketing, Health and Safety, Learning and Development, and Technical updates. 

   The Marketing update from MPBA Marketing Chair, Dominic Beastly, showed how the Association has grown in online communities, and how this benefits members. It also showed how plans are progressing for 2021 to provide greater exposure and more opportunities for members.

   Andy King, the MPBA’s Technical Chair, provided a Technical update. This section explored how fire and energy are the two largest areas with regulation changes that will have a significant impact on the entire industry. 

   Learning Hub Director, Richard Hipkiss, gave a Learning and Development update. Highlighting the ongoing plans and changes to training courses and NVQ developments and progress with Apprenticeships. 

   Finally the Health and Safety update from Brian Sutherland, MPBA’s Health and Safety Chair provided the latest HSE information on covid-19 measures and various areas that may have an impact on the construction industry and what changes are due to take place moving forward.  

   Dean Hill, our Bid and Marketing Manager, attended the event. He said, “It’s been a while since attending, but today was a very insightful event which helped highlight some changes that we may need to take into account going forward with any modular and portable building projects. It was great to get an update from the MPBA on a variety of topics. I’m looking forward to the next one. Hopefully all together in person! Thanks again.”

4. Thurston Group achieves Quality Management, Health and Safety and Environmental ISO Accreditations

   9th June 2021 9:37 am Comments Off on Thurston Group achieves Quality Management, Health and Safety and Environmental ISO Accreditations

   We’ve achieved ISO Accreditations from the NQA for 9001 (Quality Management), 45001 (Health and Safety) and 14001 (Environmental Standards). Demonstrating robust processes and our commitment to health and safety and environmental standards across all three sites. 

   These accreditations will also highlight to our current and future clients that we have robust processes and systems in place that are regularly reviewed and audited. All three sites achieved the 45001 ISO for the first time and our Hull and Catfoss sites both achieved 14001 and 9001 ISO accreditations for the first time. 

   Achieving ISO 9001, the international standard defining the requirements for a Quality Management System, shows our clients that we’re able to meet the relevant requirements in managing processes and systems. This demonstrates a robust process behind the scenes, ensuring a smoother project delivery for the client. 

   ISO 45001 for Health and Safety standards provides us with a structured framework to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. This achievement recognises our commitment to employee safety, reducing risks throughout the workplace and creating safer working environments for our staff. 

   The ISO 14001 Environmental standards set out the criteria needed for an environmental management system. They also map out a framework that organisations can use to set up their own going forward. Achieving this provides our staff and clients with the assurance that our environmental impact is being regularly tracked and improved across our sites. 

   Matthew Goff, our Managing Director, was delighted to achieve all three ISO Accreditations. He said, “I’m really proud that we’ve achieved these accreditations and would like to thank all of those involved in the process. This demonstrates Thurston’s commitments to health and safety and sustainability, as well as ensuring robust systems and processes.”

    

5. Top 3 health & safety benefits

   13th November 2019 2:50 pm Comments Off on Top 3 health & safety benefits

   In recent years, there have been major improvements to health and safety in the construction industry. However, the industry still accounts for a high percentage of fatal and major injuries.[1] Health and safety of staff and visitors is one of the most crucial factors on any construction project, but can often be overlooked.

   Our Managing Director, Matthew Goff, believes that modular construction can help improve health and safety onsite, and shares his top three health and safety benefits of modular:

   1.    Manufactured in a controlled environment

   Traditional construction sites pose many health and safety risks to workers, from falls from height to equipment accidents. But with modular, the majority of the manufacturing process is carried out offsite using specialist machinery in a quality-controlled factory environment, resulting in reduced waste, increased quality control and a lower environmental impact.

   Modular units are delivered to site, pre-fitted with electrics, plumbing, heating, doors and windows and in some cases fixtures and fittings, reducing the time spent onsite and accelerating the overall construction process. Risks can be easily managed in one setting, enhancing health and safety on site.

   2.    Waste reduction

   Modular construction ensures that materials are used more efficiently and accurately. Compared with traditional methods, 67% less energy is required to produce a modular building and up to 50% less time[2] is spent onsite. This results in up to 90% fewer vehicle movements and reduced carbon emissions.

   The impact on the local environment is also reduced, with less noise, packaging and emissions. And when a modular building is built to comply with specific sustainability standards, such as BREEAM, buildings use resources more efficiently, and see a reduction in energy consumption and operational costs.

   3.    Safer working conditions

   Modular construction provides safer working conditions. A controlled factory environment enables safety requirements to be easily met and policed, leading to better quality through improved quality control procedures. Not only is there a reduced risk of slips, trips and falls, particularly as work at height is reduced, but there is also a reduction in onsite activity. Ensuring health and safety remains a top priority from start to finish.

   Factory operations can continue 24/7 with less risk of noise and disruption to workers and projects are unaffected by the weather and other environmental delays, which results in a quick turnaround.

   We pride ourselves on creating high-quality modular and portable solutions to meet your business needs, with continuous innovation at the forefront of our business. 

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   [1] http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/key-points.htm

   [2] https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Modular_vs_traditional_construction