Considerate Constructors Scheme
2017 Checklist changes
The Scheme has updated the Site, Company and Supplier Checklists with the updated requirements coming
into effect on all visits conducted from 1st January 2017 onwards.
All changes are detailed below and the vast majority of changes apply to all three Checklists with a small
number of minor exceptions as noted below.
Specific Checklist changes
Care about Appearance

Question 1.3 amended to specifically reference external appearance as internal appearance of
facilities is covered within Workforce.

New prompt ‘accommodation’ added to question 1.3 as the external appearance of cabins and
welfare facilities will often impact on the overall appearance of the project to the general public.

The reference to ‘facilities’ has been removed from question 1.7 as this was causing confusion as to
whether poor quality facilities for operatives should be referenced in Appearance or Workforce. It
remains referenced in Workforce, specifically question 5.4
Respect the Community

A reference to cycleways has been added to question 2.2 to ensure sites are considering the impact
of their works on all highway users.

The prompt ‘ramps’ has been removed from question 5.8 and added to question 2.5 as these are
typically in consideration of visitors.

A new prompt ‘facilities for visitors’ has been added to question 2.5 to ensure that sites consider
potential visitors and not just the workforce when providing suitable facilities.

The prompt ‘careers advice’ has been removed from question 2.8 as this is covered in question 5.6.

The ‘schools’ prompt has been expanded to ‘schools/colleges’ in question 2.8.
Protect the Environment

The prompt ‘environmental policy statement displayed’ has been amended to ‘environmental policy
promoted’ in question 3.1 as the Scheme’s requirement is that the policy is communicated and this
could be done by displaying the policy statement but it could also be done through site inductions,
toolbox talks and other means.
Secure everyone’s Safety

Question 4.1 prompts ‘protected access to cabins’ and ‘controlled site access’ have been merged
into one new prompt ‘protected and controlled access’ as this tends to be the same issue.

Reference to just ‘security risks’ in question 4.2 amended to ‘all risks’ to ensure that sites do
consider all risks.

Prompts ‘warning systems’ and ‘sensors’ removed from question 4.7 as covered by vehicle
enhancements which addresses all methods of improving the safety of vehicles.

New prompts ‘inspections’ and ‘access/egress’ added to question 4.7 to ensure that sites are
considering how they are conducting inspections on all vehicles arriving at site to ensure they meet
January 2017
suitable safety standards, and also to ensure sites are considering how vehicles might enter and
leave sites safely.

‘CLOCS’ and ‘FORS’ are now two separate prompts in question 4.7 as these are 2 quite separate
initiatives.

The prompt ‘vehicle protection’ has been amended to ‘vehicle enhancements’ in question 4.7
Value their Workforce

Question 5.6 amended to ask what the site is doing to support the company as the Scheme is
looking at how sites are performing and what local activities or initiatives are in place.

Question 5.10 amended to reference the site and company rather than just the site and to remove
reference to attracting and retaining workforce as this was causing confusion and perceived overlap
with question 5.6.
Site -specific Data

A Y/N option has been added to the questions where appropriate

The additional questions relating to compliments, complaints, reportable accidents, non-reportable
accidents and environmental incidents have all been removed.

The question about school visits has been expanded to include visits by schools to sites

Two further questions have been added to ask whether appropriate procedures and spot checking is
in place to tackle illegal working in the industry.

Two questions have been added around CLOCS.
Additional Checklist guidance
All users are reminded that sites, companies and suppliers will ultimately be measured on their performance
against the questions and not individual prompts. Prompts are shown to indicate areas that are likely to be
looked at by the Scheme Monitor when assessing that particular question but these prompts are not a
separate checklist of requirements and sites may establish other method of addressing individual questions.
The guidance below is produced to provide clarification where there is apparent confusion or inconsistency.
Smoking
The subject of smoking appears in both Appearance and Workforce as there are two quite separate aspects
that the Scheme wants sites to tackle. Within appearance, the Scheme is looking to see how sites address
the issue of how smokers, particularly groups of smokers, including e-smokers, affect the overall appearance
of the project, and what actions are taken to mitigate this potential issue by providing designated, and
managed, areas.
It also appears within Workforce as the Scheme is looking at how the site considers the health of the
workforce and with an ever increasing prevalence of e-smokers, sites should be looking to have separate
arrangements in place for these people rather than expecting them to share a smoking shelter with a
tobacco smoker and be subject to the inevitable smoke.
Scheme A1 posters
In 2016, the Scheme added a prompt ‘24/7 contact information/arrangements’ and a number of sites feel that
displaying the Scheme’s standard A1 poster satisfies this requirement. This poster displays ‘normal’ contact
details, i.e. the site manager’s name and a telephone number. While this may occasionally be the same as
the 24/7 contact point, the poster does not make this clear and deliberately doesn’t highlight these details as
being contactable 24/7 as it is assumed that this often won’t be the case and that other numbers will be in
place for 24/7 use.
January 2017
In addition, the Scheme also looks for sites to clearly display the name of the contractor and company/head
office contact details for anyone wanting to contact the company directly. Again, while the number for the
head office may be the same as a 24/7 point of contact, unless this is specifically stated, it shouldn’t be
assumed that the general public would make this connection.
Sites must therefore, in all cases, provide additional signage which provides a number and clearly states that
this is a 24/7 point of contact.
A&E
Although the specific prompt within question 4.1 is A&E, it is understood that other facilities also exist and
may be more appropriate as a first port of call for certain incidents. Minor Injury Units (MIUs) and Urgent
Care Centres (UCCs) are often available and can treat issues such as sprains and strains, broken bones,
wound infections, minor burns and scalds, minor head injuries, minor eye injuries and injuries to the back,
shoulder and chest. Using these facilities where appropriate has the added benefit of allowing A&E staff to
concentrate on people with serious, life-threatening conditions and may also save you a potentially long wait.
Defibrillators
Question 4.6 has an associate prompt ’defibrillators’ but this does not necessarily mean that the Scheme
expects all sites to have their own defibrillators on site. While this is often the most sensible solution,
particularly on larger sites with a large workforce, or on more remote sites, it can often be enough to know,
and communicate to those working on site, where the nearest defibrillator is available. Many websites now
make this information quickly and easily available, and understanding where the nearest kit is available may
help save lives.
Legitimacy of the workforce
While there is certainly some overlap across the subjects of illegal workers and modern slavery, the issue of
modern slavery is not currently directly addressed by this Checklist. Scheme Monitors will be looking to see
what actions site managers are taking to ensure everyone on the project is there legally – this includes those
within the supply chain and not just direct employees. The Scheme operates beyond legislation and while
some sites may feel that their approach meets current legal requirements, the Scheme is looking for them to
take further steps to ensure that everyone is checked to avoid the situation where operatives from within the
supply chain are able to work on the project illegally.
Within construction, many projects are populated with subcontractors and subcontractors of subcontractors,
and it is therefore vital that main contractors have robust processes in place.
This is still a relatively new subject for contractors and the Scheme will be issuing a ‘Spotlight on… illegal
workers’ in the New Year to further raise awareness of this issue and to share best practice so that
contractors can implement best practice and hopefully eradicate illegal working from all registered sites.
January 2017