Quantities

0.5 The point, expressed in metres per second squared, at which workers' exposure to vibration has to begin to be measured, according to the EC Vibrations Directive, which came into force in May. Employers have to provide risk assessments for anyone operating plant and to monitor the effect on other site workers. If the level of vibration reaches 1.5mps2, the equipment has to be shut down. The aim of the directive is to prevent hard-arm vibration syndrome. A 1999 Health & Safety Executive report found that 460,300 construction workers are exposed to above the recommended amount of vibration in an average week.

10 The estimated amount, in millions of pounds, that the criminal misuse of construction industry tax certificates is costing the Northern Ireland economy. In May, four people were arrested as part of an investigation by the Organised Crime Task Force into construction companies evading their tax liabilities in the province. Nor is the Inland Revenue the only loser from construction-based fraud: the industry itself is thought to be losing hundreds of millions every year as a result of contractors paying bribes to win the approval of bids.

25 The percentage of construction companies that have had to change their working practices over the last few years because of consistently poor weather. A survey by the Met Office found that builders believe the weather is getting worse and that business is suffering because of it. More than half of those surveyed said the weather had affected projects. However, only 17% considered weather a vital part of planning and a quarter didn't take it into account at all.

55 The percentage of architects, quantity surveyors, project managers and procurement officers who rate past performance as the most important element in shortlisting a contractor for tender. According to a study carried out by fit-out contractor Overbury, quality has overtaken cost as the top selection factor. Less than a third of consultants rated cost as most important.

70 The percentage of councils "having difficulties" with best value procurement, according to an Audit Commission report. Councils are finding it hard to overcome a history of always accepting the lowest tender. The report also said that only 17% of local authorities had the commitment and capability to carry out strategic procurement, including long-term planning, goals and thinking about the wider community when deciding on procurement. 80% of the local authorities surveyed admitted their procurement strategies were incomplete.

280 The amount, in millions of pounds, that the 4,200 medium-sized construction companies are losing due to staff sickness each year. According to a survey by insurance provider UnumProvident, the cost of employees taking time off sick accounts for 7.2% of SMEs' salary bill. And firms are not budgeting for this cost, either. 39% ignore the cost of overtime needed to make up the work of absent staff and 18% don't include occupational sick pay when calculating the cost of sickness absence.