Understanding Your Legal Obligations When Working On The Road

Julie Starr • Jun 29, 2021



Road construction signs are perhaps not seen by most outside of the construction, demolition, and civil engineering industries as important to health and safety as the likes of protective clothing. Yet roadwork and construction signs are an incredibly important part of how individuals and businesses within such industries are able to meet their health and safety requirements. 

However, the process of working out what signage will actually allow these requirements to be met is a whole other conversation. Thankfully, we’re here to break down where that information can be found.

Even despite the fact that site operators may have put all sorts of health and safety measures in place at a site, safety signs – such as highway construction signs – are still a requirement of any site involving roadworks. The regulations themselves, however, do not just apply to the likes of traffic control and under construction signs – they apply to health and safety signs across all industries.

So while the regulations are helpful and offer a basic outline of what is expected of site operators or employers who have responsibility for a workplace, it is important to understand that they are not specifically for roadworks. Thankfully there is a roadworks guideline out there – the Traffic Signs Manual. Chapter 8 of this manual, which was rewritten in 2009 to cover modern traffic considerations, details everything that a site operator needs to know about roadwork signs – such as the proper usage of roadworks and construction ahead sign plates. So these are two materials that should be consulted during the design and planning stages of a traffic management plan.

After that has been achieved, it’s time to purchase the appropriate signage and equipment that is suited to what is required of a particular site. To do that, you need a good supplier of roadwork signs. Make sure they have experience in your industry. For example, if you work with excavation, using sheet pile you want someone who understands your safety needs. Sheet pile comes in many variations and the best safety businesses understanding this.

Custom Construction Signs Versus Wholesale Signs

Custom construction signs are sometimes sought by companies that work within the construction, demolition, and civil engineering industries . However, many companies rely very much on buying wholesale construction safety and road work signs. This is due to the age of construction work and how long signage has existed; as many potential hazards, pitfalls and considerations have already been identified. This means that signs have, by and large, been produced for nearly every situation. So in what situation (if any) would you need to have custom signs produced?

Well, construction signs that are customized can be found in quite a lot of situations actually. For example, companies operating a roadworks site will want to inform locals who regularly use the road that such roadworks will be taking place. Custom signs can be created and placed along with the proposed site in advance that includes the dates during which such work will take place, as well as a contact number for residents who may have questions regarding the work. Within the construction industry, operators may want particular construction yard signs produced that are specifically tailored towards certain machines or peculiarities that are only found on a particular site.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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