Constructing Better Health leader wins award

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jan 17, 2006

Michelle Aldous, project manager of Constructing Better Health, has been awarded the British Occupational Hygiene Society's 'Working for a Healthier Workplace - The Peter Isaac Award'.

Michelle Aldous, project manager of Constructing Better Health, the construction industry's occupational health support pilot has been awarded the British Occupational Hygiene Society's 'Working for a Healthier Workplace - The Peter Isaac Award', which recognises outstanding contributions to the reduction of ill-health at work.

Michelle works for health, safety and environmental consultancy Sypol, the organisation delivering Constructing Better Health.

She has assembled, managed and led a small team to deliver Constructing Better Health to smaller building firms and individuals in Leicestershire, as a trial.

The project's objective is to determine the most effective way to deliver a national scheme.

The challenge has been enormous: to reach the small firms and individuals who tend to focus on business survival and do not see longer-term health as a priority.

Nevertheless, the work that has been done to date - reaching hundreds of businesses and thousands of building workers - is beginning to make a real difference.

The realisation is growing that everyone can take steps to reduce hand-arm vibration syndrome, noise-induced hearing loss, dermatitis, musculo-skeletal problems and respiratory disease, and Michelle is leading a programme that democratises good occupational hygiene practice and points employers towards long-term relationships with professional hygienists.

Michelle has specialised in health and safety for over ten years, in both the public and private sectors, most recently as the UK Health and Safety Manager for Transport and Warehouse Services at Christian Salvesen.

She has also worked for the HSE as an Inspector, spending time in both the Field Operative Division (FOD) and the Hazardous Installation Division (HID).

She is a Chartered Member of IOSH, and an examiner with NEBOSH at Certificate and Diploma level.