Constructing Better Health (CBH), the occupational health programme for the construction industry, has won £120,000 of funding from the Government and appointed a new occupational health director.
The money from the Department of Health’s “Innovation, Excellence and Service Development Fund” will be used to support CBH’s project to develop a construction industry national database and management toolkit.
Meanwhile, Jane Coombs, a former OH leader in organisations such as Premier Foods, Bupa, Ford Motors and Hampshire County Council, has been appointed as CBH OH director.
“I intend to demystify occupational health for our clients and supporters by providing evidence-based best practice, giving the clearest advice possible. What I bring to the table is an expertise in the most current information, giving research-based advice and focusing on the fundamentals.”
Coombs was previously group occupational health and wellbeing manager at food producer Premier Foods. One of her first tasks will be to draft a drug and alcohol policy, the first of its kind for the construction industry.
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Other projects will include revising OH standards to incorporate updated legislation and health issues such as UV protection, risk management and sleep apnoea, among others.
CBH has also announced that another firm has signed up to the programme, private construction business J Murphy & Sons. The company is working on the Crossrail scheme, currently Europe’s largest construction project.
