Over 2,800 people have died in the last 25 years from injuries they received as a result of construction work, with many more injured or made ill. Construction inspectors face a daily battle to help bring those numbers down. Michelle Barratt hears how safety inspectors tackle those risks.

Since it was established two years ago, Ocon Construction has turned a few heads. The company says it aims to be the most ethical contractor in the UK and this year hopes to achieve a turnover of £130M. B&E talks toCommercial Director Bob Pringle to discover the philosophy behind the firm and the reasons for its rapid rise.

The construction industry is due for a shake up when the government introduces reforms to fire safety rules, which will abolish fire certificates. B&E hears from Russell Harri, Technical and Marketing Officer with Arcelor Construction about how contractors can use the building envelope to improve fire safety.

As demand increases to reduce build times, designers are sidestepping traditional methods of constructing exterior and interior walls in favour of composite panel systems, which significantly reduce build times, claims Denis Beardmore, Managing director of Paroc Panel System. B&E hears how the latest generation of composite panel systems can considerably improve the performance of completed buildings.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems might look straight forward, but contractors and designers are under increasing pressure not only to protect homes against flooding, but to improve water quality as well. B&E hears from Dr Jason Shingleton, Marketing and Development Directors of Polypipe Water Management Solutions about how the industry is coping with change.