How GKR Scaffolding worked with Construction Health & Wellbeing to strengthen occupational health, use real-world data and set higher standards for workforce protection.
Raising the bar for health in scaffolding
GKR Scaffolding
- Starting point
- The challenge
- The approach
- The outcome
Starting point
GKR Scaffolding already had a strong people culture and a reputation for looking after its workforce. Operating in one of construction’s most physically demanding sectors, the business understood that health risks could have a significant impact on its people.
Leadership wanted to go further. Musculoskeletal risk was a particular concern, alongside exposure to dust and noise, fatigue and substance misuse.
The question was whether existing arrangements were doing enough to protect workers and support continuous improvement. GKR wanted independent assurance, stronger occupational health systems and better evidence of how risks were being managed across the business and on live projects.
20
Days of Soter monitoring across scaffolding operations.
655
Scaffolding workdays had been lost to manual handling incidents.
3
Years working with CH&W on occupational health improvement.
1
1 New occupational health provider introduced and embedded.
The challenge
Scaffolding creates demanding physical conditions, particularly around manual handling and repetitive movement. GKR also needed to understand how well other health risks were being controlled, including noise exposure and substance misuse.
The challenge was to strengthen systems without losing the positive culture already in place. Any changes needed to work in real site conditions and support managers as well as scaffolders.
GKR also wanted better use of health data. Information needed to do more than demonstrate compliance. It needed to help identify risk, guide practical interventions and show where improvements were working, giving leaders greater confidence in the effectiveness of their occupational health arrangements.
The approach
CH&W carried out an independent review of GKR’s occupational health systems and worked with leadership to identify practical improvements.
This included supporting the move to a new occupational health provider, K2 Associates, and introducing SoterAnalytics technology to better understand manual handling risk. Scaffolders used Soter devices over 20 days, receiving real-time alerts when high-risk postures occurred, with data used to identify patterns and improve behaviour.
CH&W also reviewed noise exposure and helped strengthen drug and alcohol testing procedures. Employee insight informed the work, while PSA testing and health checks extended support beyond statutory requirements and helped identify concerns requiring further attention.
The outcome
GKR now has stronger occupational health systems and better evidence to support decision-making. Soter data showed reductions in high-risk manual handling behaviours and helped identify how factors such as role and competency influenced musculoskeletal risk.
Health surveillance has been strengthened through the new occupational health provider, with improved reporting and analysis. Noise monitoring led to clearer controls around hearing protection, PPE and worker intervention where exposure is high.
Drug and alcohol procedures were strengthened with clearer processes around consent, GDPR and non-negative results. CH&W continues to support GKR through assurance activity, helping the business improve standards and embed health more firmly into everyday operations.
How CH&W can help your business.
Want to strengthen how health risk is managed across your workforce? Find out how CH&W can help you assess current arrangements, improve controls and build a more robust approach.