The C words - Consistent. Clear. Communications.

29 May

The Scottish construction sector contributes over £21.5 bn to Scotland’s GDP and employs 10% of the workforce. It also supports the wider economy in this country because every construction pound generates a further £2.94.

The First Minister’s announcement, on 28 May - while stopping short of green-lighting a return to construction quite yet - provides welcome clarity of what is and what is not allowed for now. But in the rush to get sites prepared to re-open from an operational perspective, it’s important to remember to communicate what is happening.

Clear communication about revised health and safety procedures is vital to protect staff and subcontractors – and will save lives. Now is the time to ensure that messages are clear, timely and understood by all audiences – before anyone goes anywhere near their workplace. Involving union reps at this stage is important, too, as they can help you spread the word.

Not everyone absorbs information in the same way so construction companies need to adopt different formats and approaches – think graphics, step by step guides and so on. Short videos work well as they are easily understood and familiar. You need to be explicit about the behaviours that are required - and what’s not allowed. Test the messaging before opening a site and remove any ambiguity. The more questions you get, the less clear your instructions are.

Once you’ve dealt with staff and contractors, think about your wider audiences, and end customers too. Most of them have been in lockdown for months, so they need to feel safe on your premises.

Communications is one of the few things we can control right now. By getting it right construction companies have the best chance of a safe and steady return to full working.