Site Visit: Multiplex's White City BBC Television Centre Phase 2 – A Focus on Health and Safety
At Irwin and Colton, we are always keen to learn from the best in the industry, especially when it comes to health and safety on major projects. Recently, we had the privilege of visiting Multiplex's £220m White City BBC Television Centre Phase 2 site in Central London. This state-of-the-art construction project provided a unique opportunity to see how health and safety is managed on a large, complex site with a diverse workforce.
We were welcomed by Michael Harding, the Health and Safety Manager for the project, who shared invaluable insights into the critical role that clear and direct communication plays in ensuring health and safety across the site. With a workforce that is exceptionally diverse, with many workers speaking English as a second language, Michael emphasised the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to ensure that safety standards are upheld at all levels.
One of the key takeaways from our visit was the strong relationship between Michael and the site team. It's clear that having a collaborative approach to health and safety is crucial to driving success on a site of this scale. Michael’s presence on the ground and his direct engagement with the workers not only fostered a culture of safety but also helped to bridge any language barriers, ensuring everyone on site felt informed and confident about their responsibilities.
Equally important was Michael’s focus on coaching and empowering the site teams to take ownership of health and safety improvements. By actively involving the workforce in the safety journey, rather than simply enforcing compliance, Michael has been able to inspire a culture of continuous improvement. His approach of mentoring and guiding the site teams helps to ensure that safety isn’t just a top-down directive but an integral part of the team’s mindset and daily operations. This kind of empowerment is vital for creating sustainable, long-term improvements in safety performance.
The site itself is a hub of activity, and it's evident that safety is woven into the fabric of the project. From ensuring that safety protocols are communicated effectively to managing the well-being of a varied workforce, the White City BBC Television Centre Phase 2 site demonstrates that health and safety is not just about compliance, but about creating an environment where people can work safely and with confidence.
Our visit left a lasting impression on us, and it reinforced the importance of leadership, communication, and empowerment in building a strong safety culture. We’d like to thank Michael Harding and the team at Multiplex for taking the time to show us around and for their dedication to safety at all levels.
Luke O'Driscoll is a Consultant on Irwin and Colton's Construction Team, specialising in placing health and safety professionals with Principal Contractors across the UK. For recruitment support or insights into the candidate market within the Construction sector, contact Luke atluke.odriscoll@irwinandcolton.com or call +44 (0)1923 432 683.