Issued by the Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum), of which SELECT is a leading member, the posters and stickers carry the legend ‘Key worker on site: carrying out essential work’.

Designed to be displayed on sites or vans, and also in customers’ windows, they were produced to deflect harassment and abuse which has been directed at employees by members of the public.

The signage will alert the public to the fact that workers they see in the streets or on sites are not flouting the rules but instead are performing vital roles, in line with guidelines, to ensure that the fabric of the country remains in good condition during the lockdown.

John McKinney, secretary of Forum members the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Stone Federation and the Scottish Contractors Group, said: “As a consequence of mixed messaging from government, there has been some confusion among certain members of the public about what is essential working.

“However, that is no excuse for harassing people who are going about their legitimate business, and we hope these signs, which carry an information helpline number, will help clarify the situation.”

As well as posters and stickers for contractors, the signage also include posters for customers to put in windows, with the collateral now distributed to each of the Forum’s 23 member organisations.

Ian Honeyman, commercial director of fellow Forum member the Scottish Building Federation, said: “This is a time when we should all be working together and the Forum is keen to reduce any possible tensions between key workers and misinformed members of the public.

“In a period when the Scottish Government is asking people to remain in their homes, it is important that these homes are watertight, safe and have essential working facilities, such as water, gas and electricity, and that is what the construction sector’s key workers are ensuring.”

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